Algeria copter crashes in reconnaissance mission, 12 die

At least 12 Algerians have been killed in a copter crash during a reconnaissance mission in the Sahara.

The northwestern African state’s defense ministry made the announcement on Sunday, without elaborating what the mission was aimed at.

The cause of the incident was declared as “technical failure” in the copper while flying between the towns of Adrar and Reggan in the Tamanrasset region.

An investigation has been called into the crash by the chief of staff of the Algerian armed forces.

The country has been battling with Takfiri militants particularly the ones from the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Last Sunday, the country’s military killed at least four militants and injured three others in a desert region where a gas plant jointly operated by foreign energy giants came under attack with rocket-propelled grenades.