Following the fires that broke out in Béjaïa in the 5th Military Region on 23rd July 2023, particularly in the municipalities of El K'seur and Beni K'sila, where significant human and material resources were deployed from the first hours, with the commitment of two (02) aircraft specialized in fire fighting as well as the intervention of fire-fighters from civil protection and detachments of People's National Army, and due to the increase in the force of the winds relaxing the fires randomly towards the location of a detachment of PNA located in Beni K'sila, it was proceeded with the evacuation of its military personnel in the company of the inhabitants of the mechtas of this locality from the morning of this 24th July 2023 at 04:00.

      During this evacuation operation, and due to the accelerated spread of flames and smoke, the military personnel in the company of the inhabitants of the neighbouring mechtas found themselves surrounded by fires, where unfortunately ten (10) military personnel belonging to a detachment located in Beni K'sila, fell as martyrs, and twenty-five (25) others suffered injuries, more or less serious, immediately evacuated to the nearest hospitals.

      In these painful circumstances, General Saïd CHANEGRIHA, Chief of Staff of PNA sends, in his name and on behalf of all the personnel of People's National Army, his sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the Chouhada as well as to the entire military institution, praying Allah the Almighty, to grant the deceased Chouhada His Holy Mercy, to welcome them in His Vast Paradise among the martyrs and the valiant saints and to grant their loved ones all the courage and strength in this painful trial, and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.