An Algerian soldier was killed during a military operation aimed at confronting "terrorism" in the Ain Defla province in the west of the country, as announced by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in a tweet on Wednesday.
The Algerian president wrote: "My sincere condolences to the family of the contracted corporal, Salawi Samir, and to all members of the People's National Army, the descendant of the National Liberation Army, following his martyrdom while confronting the hands of treacherous terrorism in the field of honor in Ain Defla, to join the noble martyrs during these days of loyalty to our martyrs," referring to the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of independence.
No information was provided about the ongoing military operation in Ain Defla, located 150 km southwest of the capital, where two soldiers were killed nearly a year ago during an "anti-terrorism" operation. The Algerian authorities use the term "terrorist" to refer to armed militants active in the country since the early 1990s.
Since the beginning of the year, the army has killed 10 militants, found 3 bodies, arrested 7 others in various operations, and 3 surrendered to the military authorities, in addition to seizing 323 weapons, according to a report published by the Ministry of Defense on Wednesday.
Algeria experienced a war between militants and government forces during the "black decade" from 1992 to 2002, which resulted in 200,000 deaths, according to official figures. Despite the "National Reconciliation Charter" issued in 2005 to close the chapter of the civil war, armed militants continue to operate in parts of the country, including Ain Defla, often targeting security forces in their attacks.
