APA - Nouakchott (Mauritania) The group Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility for the attacks launched on Wednesday against a military barracks in Mauritania, that left on dead and three soldiers injured, the Mauritanian information site Saharamedia reports here on Monday.
It was a “resounding response to the death of six of our militants, killed during an operation jointly carried out by Mauritania and France,” the independent site said, quoting a statement issued on Islamic sites close to Al Qaida.
The Mauritanian army, backed by France, on 22 July 2010, launched a raid on an AQIM position in Mali, killing seven militants of the Salafist organisation. Two days later, Al Qaeda, retaliated by executing a French hostage, Michel Gemaneaux, it was holding in the northern region of Mali.
“One of the lions of Islam, a grand-child of Youssef Ibn Tacheffine had smashed his car, loaded with explosives into a military fortress, to kill soldiers of the apostasy, and for those who would escape, to live the rest of their lives in the terror of what happened to them during that holy night,” the Al Qaeda statement added.
Youssef Ibn Tacheffine was one of the top leaders of the Almoravides (Muslim conquerors), who defeated King Alfonso II of Spain on 2 November 1086 in the battle of Zallagha.
