Tamesguida offensive explained

Conflict:Tamesguida offensive
Place:Tamesguida, Algeria
Date:15-16 February 1997
Partof:the Algerian Civil War
Combatant1: Algeria
Combatant2:Armed Islamic Group
Result:Algerian government victory
Casualties2:60+ rebels killed
Casualties1:Unknown

The Tamesguida offensive was an Algerian army offensive against the Armed Islamic Group's stronghold of Tamesguida from 15 to 16 February 1997 during the Algerian Civil War. It took place in the north east region of Tamesguida in Médéa province when an Algerian army offensive using helicopters and ground troops killed more than 60 rebels.[1]

Offensive

The Tamesguida region had been a stronghold of the Armed Islamic Group, where they killed 12 Croatian technicians at the Hidroelektra workers massacre in December 1993. This operation was part of a major offensive against GIA Islamist extremists, who killed over 300 people over the past month. Army helicopters fired at rebels hiding in a hilly forest 65 km south west of Algiers, and troops moved in and killed more than 60 rebels in their hideouts, reported Liberté. Since 24 January when President Liamine Zéroual promised to wipe out the guerrillas, 170 guerillas were killed by security forces.[2] [3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Army kills 60 in attack on rebels . 2023-04-13 . The Irish Times . en.
  2. Web site: 1997-02-18 . Opération hélioportée de l'armée algérienne : 60 intégristes tués . 2023-04-13 . L'Orient-Le Jour.
  3. Web site: Chronologie des massacres en Algérie (1992 – 2007) – 1992-1997 – Algeria-Watch . 2023-04-13 . algeria-watch.org.