Mar 26, 2004
U.S. Commander Says Anti-US Group Dealt Severe Blow in North Africa
By Robert Burns
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - An Algerian band of Islamic extremists possibly linked to the al-Qaida terror network suffered a "very significant military defeat" when attacked two weeks ago by Chad's army, the general responsible for U.S. military interests in North Africa said Friday.
Marine Corps Gen. James Jones, commander of U.S. European Command, said the fight targeted the Salafist Group for Call and Combat. The Chadian government said after the battle that its army had killed 43 terrorists.
Although U.S. troops were not involved in the battle, Jones said American forces have been cooperating with Chad and other Saharan countries in ways that have made their militaries more effective.
"We've been able to be of assistance to them, to show them where these people (militants) are because of our unique means of finding these types of things, these types of goings-on in the vast desert," he said.
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