Algeria mobilizes 6,500 soldiers and 10 special force battalions to protect eastern borders

Land military backup arrived on Thursday to Algerian eastern border areas with Tunisia as the army deployed 10 special force battalions with more than 6,500 soldiers, Echorouk has learnt.

The military backup is meant to protect borders and prevent terrorists from entering Algeria.

The army set up checkpoints, surveillance towers and sophisticated cameras along borders and stepped up security measures on routes to borders with Tunisia.

According to the same sources, security forces asked residents to inform them about any suspicious acts.

General Ahmed Boustila, Commander of the National Gendarmerie ordered commander of border guards Colonel Mohamed Berkani to follow up the security plan by deploying additional guards on borders with Tunisia.

This comes as the Algerian army has been under pressure on southern borders with Mali and Niger since France launched a military campaign on armed activists in Northern Mali early this year. The military operation pushed Algeria to multiply its forces on borders fearing of terrorists’ presence on its soil.

Algeria is also concerned about the war declared by drug barons on its western borders with Morocco. The army and border guards are ready to any possible operation.