Armed Islamic Group of Algeria

The Armed Islamic Group (GIA, from French: Groupe islamique armé; Arabic: الجماعة الإسلامية المسلّحة‎), was one of the two main Islamist insurgents groups that fought the Algerian government and army in the Algerian Civil War. The group established a presence outside Algeria, in France, Belgium, Britain, Italy and the United States, and launched terror attacks in France in 1994 and 1995. The "undisputed principal Islamist force" in Algeria in 1994, by 1996, militants were deserting "in droves", alienated by its execution of civilians and Islamists leaders.

Armed Islamic Group of Algeria

The Armed Islamic Group (GIA, from French: Groupe islamique armé; Arabic: الجماعة الإسلامية المسلّحة‎), was one of the two main Islamist insurgents groups that fought the Algerian government and army in the Algerian Civil War. The group established a presence outside Algeria, in France, Belgium, Britain, Italy and the United States, and launched terror attacks in France in 1994 and 1995. The "undisputed principal Islamist force" in Algeria in 1994, by 1996, militants were deserting "in droves", alienated by its execution of civilians and Islamists leaders.