Algeria: Six terrorists killed in raid July 31 /update 1

Event

The Algerian government announced six suspected terrorists were killed on Monday, July 31, in an ongoing military operation in Safsafa, Tipaza province (west of Algiers), which began on July 23. Arms and munitions including machine guns were also seized in the raid. Two additional suspected terrorists were killed in a similar raid carried out in the province on July 24. 

Context

Anti-terrorist operations are conducted on a regular basis in Algeria; since the beginning of the year more than 70 suspected terrorists have been killed and 23 arrested. Algerian authorities regularly use the word "terrorist" to refer to armed Islamists, active in the country since the 1990s. Although Algeria has not seen any major terrorist attacks over the past two years, the threat of terrorism persists and minor attacks targeting security forces do take place, despite the aggressive anti-terrorism campaign led by the military and security services. The threat is particularly high in the east and south of the country, as well as the Atlas Mountains region, a former stronghold of Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Advice

Due to the risk of terrorism, individuals are advised to maintain a high degree of vigilance, to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities, and to be particularly alert when visiting sites deemed likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.).

Most Western governments advise against all travel to the desert regions of central and southern Algeria, including the entire border with Libya, due to the terrorist threat. Traveling to some wilayas of northern Algeria (Tizi Ouzou, Bouïra, Boumerdès, Béjaïa, Jijel, Skikda, Tébessa, Constantine, El Oued, or Aurès Mountains) is also advised against. Only a few large cities (Algiers, Oran, and Tlemncen) should be considered relatively safe thanks to a heavy security presence.