Algeria intensifies fight against al-Qaeda

[AFP/STR] Algerian security forces escort a bus of freed hostages from the In Amenas attack.

By Walid Ramzi in Algiers for Magharebia

Algeria is taking the counter-terror fight to al-Qaeda’s door, launching the biggest offensive seen this year.

Algeria is attacking al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and racking up a series of wins.

The army on Sunday (March 31st) launched the largest operation since the start of the year, sending thousands of soldiers, special forces, ground troops and helicopters to search vast desert regions across the southern provinces Bechar, Adrar, Tindouf, Ghardaia, Laghouat and al-Bayadh.

Security forces on Sunday also arrested a prominent AQIM official entrusted to activate terrorist cells in the south, Ennahar reported.

The AQIM boss was reportedly accompanied by several other fighters who planned to carry out suicide attacks during the carpet festival inGhardaia last week. Security forces confiscated a large weapons cache and five explosive belts.

This intervention was launched on information pointing to the presence of criminal groups in Grand Erg Occidental, El Khabar reported.

Security operations were not limited to the southern region.

Last Saturday in Tadmit, an army unit ambushed and killed a terrorist. Security forces also intercepted a number of terrorists who were trying to sneak across the border with Mauritania.

Over the last couple of weeks, security forces also killed seven armed terrorist, including one leader, in separate interventions in Tizi Ouzou and Tipaza provinces.

Among those killed were 39-year-old Said Badache and Hamza Nouali. They were among more than 30 terrorists, including AQIM chiefAbdelmalek Droukdel, sentenced to death in absentia on March 19th by a Tizi Ouzou court.

As one of the states targeted by traffickers, Algeria is still worried about the on-going war in Mali and the proliferation of weapons in Libya, Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci said on Monday.

But Algeria has “reinforced its arsenal” since the attack on the In Amenas gas complex, El Watan reported Medelci as saying.

“The risk is still there and we must be vigilant in this area. The army has taken all the necessary measures to ensure security,” he added.

Algeria is counting on the co-operation of other countries in the region, Medelci said. Algeria is also working on obtaining the release of thekidnapped Algerian diplomats, he added.