Tamesguida offensive

The Tamesguida offensive was an Algerian army offensive against the Armed Islamic Group's stronghold of Tamesguida from 15 to 16 February 1997 during the Algerian Civil War. It took place in the north east region of Tamesguida in Médéa province when an Algerian army offensive using helicopters and ground troops killed more than 60 rebels.

Offensive
The Tamesguida region had been a stronghold of the Armed Islamic Group, where they killed 12 Croatian technicians at the Hidroelektra workers massacre in December 1993. This operation was part of a major offensive against GIA Islamist extremists, who killed over 300 people over the past month. Army helicopters fired at rebels hiding in a hilly forest 65 km south west of Algiers, and troops moved in and killed more than 60 rebels in their hideouts, reported Liberté. Since 24 January when President Liamine Zéroual promised to wipe out the guerrillas, 170 guerillas were killed by security forces.