At least three soldiers and three Islamic militants were killed in a confrontation on 12 November between insurgents and government security agents in the Ain Defla region, 250 kilometres west of Algiers. Local reports suggest that the incident happened when security officials went to the region to search and arrest suspected militants. The attack came a day after five people were injured when a bomb exploded in Sidi Mezghiche, 480 kilometers east of Algiers.