Algiers — Algerian security forces are stepping up operations against al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). At least six gunmen were killed in two separate operations last week.

Algerian army forces killed four gunmen during the night of Friday (July 19th) during a raid near the city of Sour El-Ghozlane in the province of Bouira, 120 kilometres south-east of Algiers.

Security forces fired at a vehicle carrying four gunmen at the southern exit of the city near the village of Khleifat. The Chevrolet car they were in exploded and burned, La Depeche de Kabylie reported. The incident caused the total incineration of the bodies aboard, while one security force member was mildly injured.

Bourihan Rabah (aka Ayadh Abou Aberrahmane) was in charge of inter-zonal relations for al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Al-Qaeda communication officer and Rabah deputy Lafi Lakhdar (alias Aboulwalid Touhami) also died in the ANP operation, according to Tout sur l'Algerie.

The operation took place after a tip about the movement of terrorists headed from Bouira to the province of M'Sila. During the operation, machine guns, a pistol, and goggles were confiscated. Security forces also found a large amount of hard currency believed to be ransom money for kidnappings carried out by the terrorist group.

It remains unclear as to what the final objective of the terrorists was.

According to Ennahar, the four terrorists were heading towards the capital to carry out suicide operations, as they were all wearing explosive belts.

El Watan, however, speculated that the group was on its way to the Boukhil Mountains connecting the province of M'sila to the province of Djelfa. This would have been their first stop before heading to the province of Tébessa to co-ordinate operations with Tunisian armed groups.

Rabah was a 35-year-old from Ouled Moussa in the province of Boumerdes and had been wanted since 1999. The second terrorist, 36-year-old Touhami, was from the province of Sétif. He joined AQIM in 2002 before becoming a close associate of organisation's leader Abdelmalek Droukdel.

"The elimination of the leader in charge of managing the terrorist organisation's territories is indeed a painful blow to al-Qaeda," retired military member Tahar Ben Thamer said.

"The operation confirms the success of intelligence services in tracing the activities of terrorists and their leaders," he added. "This puts more pressure on its emirs and field commanders, who usually try to stay under the radar."

Also last Friday, army troops spotted a four-wheel drive vehicle coming from Libya, Echorouk reported. Army troops destroyed the SUV when it reached the province of El Oued, 800 kilometres south-east of Algiers. This led to the death of the three gunmen aboard.

The car was loaded with Russian-made automatic weapons, anti-aircraft missiles, RPGs, and bullet-proof jackets.

The group was reportedly on a mission to transport weapons from Libya, but lost its way in the desert.