Algiers, May 19 (QNA) - Three militants were detained in a security operation in southeastern Algeria, the country's Ministry of National Defense said Saturday in a statement.

The militants in questions were apprehended in the southeastern province of Illizi, according to the ministry.

The operation comes within the military efforts to cleanse the country from terrorism and establish security, the statement added.

For years, the Algerian army has been carrying out operations to track armed groups based in the eastern and northern mountains of the country, and to the far south on the border with Mali. (QNA)