Algerian forces launch a joint military training with troops of Sahel countries to combat Al Qaeda

Algeria forces launch, last Thursday, a join military training exercises with armies of African Sahel countries in a desert area, security sources told Echorouk.

Same sources added that Algerian, Malian, Mauritanian, and Nigerian military forces launch last Thursday training exercises on methods of fighting with live ammunition in a closed military zone of the large Sahara, south of Tamenrasset.

According to Echorouk sources, Algerian forces’ training exercises came in anticipation to the launch of a possible military operation in the desert in coordination with forces of the Sahel countries following the decision of the African chief of armies to activate a joint military operation to hit Al Qaeda in the Sahel region in the coming weeks.

Echorouk sources asserted that armed groups exploit the attack on strategic locations in the Sahara to pass military hardware coming from Libya to reach Al Qaeda in the sahel region.

Security sources quoted a security official as saying that Algeria’s armed troops backed by Russian made helicopters, warplanes, missiles, modern and sophisticated communication equipment and night vision equipment are used in the military exercises now under way south of Tamenrasset (south of Algeria).