Algeria goes after militants along borders with Libya, Niger

A large scale military operation was launched Sunday by the Algerian forces to track down extremist groups along the country's borders with Libya and Niger, a security source said.

The source told Xinhua on the condition of anonymity that the operation aimed at combing the southeastern borders of the country, following information of an intrusion by militants and arm traffickers a few days ago.

The operation, which began Sunday in the locality of Janett near the Libyan border, is likely to last at least two weeks, as a joint force of 4,000 troops has been deployed, in addition to a special force unit.

Algeria's borders with Libya and Niger run through a remote desert, and the area is hard to control.

Growing security threats in the African Sahel region and neighbouring nations have forced Algeria to deploy more troops along its borders with Libya, Tunisia, Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Morocco, to thwart potential attacks by armed groups and organised criminal gangs, including those linked to arms and drug trafficking.

Algeria has already deployed more than 50,000 troops along its 1,000 km border with violence-ridden Libya.