Algeria blames groups it links to Morocco, Israel for wildfires

Algiers to review relations with Morocco after accusing it and group with ‘Zionist links’ for the deadly forest fires.

Algeria blames its recent deadly fires on two groups it recently designated as “terrorist” organisations, adding that one of them was backed by Morocco and Israel. The Algerian president’s office on Wednesday said police had arrested 22 people for starting the blazes, adding that the ultimate responsibility lay with the Islamist Rashad group and MAK, an autonomy movement for the mostly Amazigh-speaking Kabylie region. Algeria designated both groups as terrorist organisations this year.