Algerian Army Raids Pro-ISIL Militant Camp

Local Editor

Four gunmen were killed after the Algerian army raided the suspected hideout of the kidnappers of Herve Gourdel, the French tourist beheaded by extremists recently last month [September], Algeria's defense ministry said on Friday.

The army killed three suspected terrorists in an operation at 6 am in the area of Bouria, 120 kilometers [75 miles] east of Algiers, the defense ministry said in a statement.

The "ongoing" operation had retrieved two Kalashnikovs and a semi-automatic rifle, it added.

In a separate raid in the Tiaret region, 340 kilometers southwest of Algiers, on Thursday "an army detachment killed... one terrorist and arrested another".

The ministry said two Kalashnikovs were seized, as well as ammunition and mobile phones.

Additionally, the army announced on Thursday that, "The camp that served as the hideout for the terrorist group that carried out the execution [of Gourdel] was destroyed" in a "large operation" in the Djurdjura mountains, 150 kilometres southeast of Algiers.

Gourdel was kidnapped on September 21 by "Jund al-Khilifa", or "Soldiers of the "Caliphate"," an outfit which has pledged allegiance to the so-called "Daesh" [ISIL] extremist group. Gourdel was later beheaded.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team