At least 13 militants were killed by the Algerian army west of the capital amid wide­scale combing operations, according to security sources.
The operations are being conducted in Ain Defla province and some areas taken by militants as strongholds, local media reported, citing the sources.

The army launched huge military operations in an area between the provinces of Tizi Ouzou and Bejaia when it was reported that some militants infiltrated from the provinces of Bouira and Boumerdes, the media said.

The operations come following the killings of nine soldiers and wounding two others in an ambush by the militants in an area in Ain Defla.

Such "criminal" acts come after a string of successes by the army against the "terrorist" groups, Ministry of Defense said in a statement, adding the acts reinforce the army's determination to defeat these groups.
Al­Qaeda's North Africa branch claimed responsibility for the attack.