Counterterrorism: Algerian forces seize Libyan anti-aircraft missiles

Algeria National People’s Army forces, in coordination with the National Gendarmerie, launched an intensive combing operation since Wednesday, on the border area that is adjacent to the Libyan territories, eliminated a terrorist at about 200 km from Djanet, in Illizi, southern Algeria, and seized several rockets which were smuggled from Libya.

According to reliable sources, information which reached the armed forces in southern borders, said that elements of the terrorist organization “Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb” smuggled a shipment of sophisticated weapons, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles from Libya via the Tunisian territory through the triangle border with Niger.

Following these information, the Algerian armed forces (ANP), intensified their presence and spread in the region which is bordering Libya, and discovered two vehicles of the type “Toyota Station”, and found that they are among the convoy of the terrorist groups, that moved to the Algerian territories, but the Algerian armed forces dealt with them firmly, as they shot a car and caused the death of the driver, then found that the vehicle was used to carry a cargo of 9 anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles, while the other vehicle was able to escape in the direction of Niger desert lands.

Algerian armed forces (ANP) launched a large combing operation in the border area with Niger, and also stepped up the number of military forces in the south and on the Tunisian borders, in anticipation of any operations of terrorists’ escape from the Tunisian territory, after the combing operation that was carried out by the Tunisian armed forces recently, following the killing of eight elements of the Tunisian Guards by terrorists.

ANP forces use military helicopters for the patrolling of the borders, and Border Guards to tighten control even on the shepherds in areas that are adjacent to Tunisia and launch operations of identity verification.