Militant killed in Algerian army operation

The Algerian army killed an armed militant in an operation in the western province of Ain Defla overnight on Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

Sources said the gunman was killed during an operation near Tacheta Zougagha in Ain Defla province, about 145 km southwest of the capital Algiers.

A semiautomatic rifle and ammunition were retrieved in the operation.

The upper dense woods and forests of Ain Defla have served as hideouts for terrorist groups but are recurrently raided by army troops.

Despite significant improvement of security situation in Algeria, the government says a few militants affiliated to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and the recently established Islamic State affiliate group, the Caliphate Soldiers, are still taking refuge in the woods of central and western regions.

Quoting Interpol figures, the Algerian religious affairs minister has recently said that 63 Algerians could have joined the Islamic State group.

Algeria has been deploying more troops on borders with Mali, Libya and Tunisia against the intrusion of arms and militants. The government says it is combining efforts with these southern and eastern neighboring nations to set an efficient strategy in the fight against terrorism. Endit