Upcoming anti-terrorist exercises "Desert Shield 2022" of Russia and Algeria are planned and are not directed against a third party. This is said in the commentary of the Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zakharova distributed on Tuesday.
The diplomat pointed out that the Russian-Algerian exercises of ground troops will be held from November 16 to 28 at the Hamaguir range in Algeria. "These anti-terrorist exercises are planned and conducted as part of the approved program of military cooperation with Algeria. I would like to especially emphasize that like all military exercises in which the Russian Federation takes part, they are not directed against any third party," Zakharova said.
Earlier, the press service of the Southern Military District (South Military District) told reporters that about 80 servicemen of the motorized infantry formations of the South Military District stationed in the North Caucasus and about 80 servicemen of the armed forces of Algeria were to be involved in the maneuvers. In the course of training the militaries of the two countries will practice search, detection and elimination of terrorist groups in the desert terrain.
The first joint Russian-Algerian tactical exercises were held in October 2021 at the Tarskoye training ground in North Ossetia. Around 200 servicemen from Russia and Algeria took part in them and about 40 units of combat and special equipment were involved. The combat training plan for the troops of the Southern Military District in 2022 provides for the participation of troops of the district in exercises with units of the armed forces of Algeria, Egypt, Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation / TASS
Based on materials from TASS