Battle of Ain Defla

The Battle of Ain Defla (Arabic: معركة عين الدفلى) was a major five-day-long battle from 26 to 31 March 1995 during the Algerian Civil War. It took place in the Ain Defla region when government forces ambushed 1,000 to 1,300[1] Islamist rebels. The Islamist rebels had a death toll of 600[2] to over 800,[3] with as many as a thousand in total on both sides.[2] Algerian newspapers described this as one of the worst rebel defeats in an area which they have controlled for months.[2]

Battle of Ain Defla
Part of Algerian Civil War
Date26 – 31 March 1995 (5 days)
Location
Ain Defla, Algeria
Result Algerian government victory
Belligerents
 Algeria Armed Islamic Group
Commanders and leaders
Said Bey Djamel Zitouni †
Strength
Unknown 1,000 to 1,300 militias
Casualties and losses
Unknown 600 to 800+ killed

Battle

The battle began after a government informer working within the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria warned the government authorities of a 1,000-strong conference of Islamist militias to be held in Ain Defla.[2] Soon after, the army moved in on the rebels on 26 March, ambushing a group of Islamists in a convoy travelling to Algiers. The Algerian army commanded by General Said Bey ambushed the militias in Ain Defla with helicopter gunships and heavy artillery as they gathered for the meeting. Rumours swept Algiers of the razing of the whole town of Ain Defla. Helicopter gunships pursued fleeing guerrillas into the mountains.[2] There were no estimates of casualties among the Algerian government, and government officials refused to comment on this.[3] On 30 March, the leader of the GIA Djamel Zitouni was killed in the fighting.[4] The battle ended in the victory of the Algerian government.[5]

References
  1. Kraft, Scott (1995-03-30). "Algerian Army Hits Rebels Hard / Big offensive kills as many as 1,300 Islamic militants". SFGATE. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  2. "Algerian rebels slaughtered in raid". The Independent. 1995-03-27. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  3. "DEATH TOLL CLIMBS IN LARGE-SCALE ALGERIAN BATTLE". The Washington Post. 28 March 1995.
  4. Khiari, Rachid (1995-03-30). "Algerian Rebel Leader Reportedly Slain by Army". SFGATE. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  5. Willis, Michael (March 1999). The Islamist Challenge in Algeria: A Political History. NYU Press. ISBN 978-0-8147-9329-9.
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