Algiers - Islamist guerilla fighters damaged a plane during an attack at Djanet airport in the far south-eastern part of Algeria, press reports said Saturday, 10 November.
Security forces countered the attack which occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning.
According to El Watna daily, the attackers damaged an Air Algerie plane, while Le Soir d'Algerie said two helicopters and a military aircraft had been hit.
The attackers had arrived in three off-road vehicles with rocket launchers and machine guns and were able to escape across the border into Niger, the reports said.
The attack comes as the southern Algerian desert is entering the tourist high season.
Airport security precautions have been particularly strict since the kidnapping of tourists in 2003, and airports are guarded by the military.
It remained unclear whether the attackers tried to enter the airport site or whether they had only fired shots from a distance.

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Claims are being reported that the Algerian military have killed about 10 on the responsible insurgents. See report at end of this posting.

All considered the attack on Djanet airport was pretty bold. There is nothing much between the airport and Niger except for a wire fence around the runway and so the getaway back to Niger is not difficult. But the attack will bring a lot of attention on the Djado region from Algeria. In the past this region has been beyond Niger's reach but across the political border from Algeria. Assuming that the rebels were based in Niger. My guess is that the Algerians will be using some resources to fly that region now.

For overlanders the area around Djanet is probably safer now than it was 2 weeks ago but at what price in terms of military activity, road blocks and the like. Given that the Amguid region and surrounding pistes are still closed following the kidnappings of 4 years ago, one wonders what restrictions will now be imposed in the desert around Djanet.



"Algerian army forces killed the terrorists who attacked an airport southern Algeria on Thursday damaging a military aircraft.

About ten terrorists carried out at Djanet airport in the far south-eastern part of Algeria at 4 a.m. on Thursday, according to security sources.

The armed group fired shots from a distance of around 800 metres on a military aircraft and a helicopter in the airport. The military aircraft was seriously damaged but it did not burn nor did it explode, said the same sources.

No human casualties were reported as no one was on the aircrafts.

The army forces immediately responded and carried out military operation in the desert using helicopters. The terrorists who escaped across the desert were caught and killed by the army forces.

Investigations into this event are underway to know the background of the attack and identify the terrorist organisation behind it.



Story by : A.Oussama translated by : Halima Nine"

Echorouk Online - Army kills airport attackers in southern Algeria

If you want to read the whole report (in french) :

[ El Watan :: Actualite ]

RR

It's been suggested that the attack may have had something to do with this:

IOL: Tuareg rebel leaders begin peace process
(Malian Tuareg peace talks in Algiers)

or this:

[ El Watan :: Actualite ]
(Last of the GIA sentenced to death)

although Djanet airport seems a long way from either.

Ch

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