Algerian Army Seeks China’s Expertise in Drone Manufacturing

The Algerian army commander visits China (Algerian Ministry of Defense)
The Algerian army commander visits China (Algerian Ministry of Defense)
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Algerian Army Seeks China’s Expertise in Drone Manufacturing

The Algerian army commander visits China (Algerian Ministry of Defense)
The Algerian army commander visits China (Algerian Ministry of Defense)

Algerian Army chief Gen. Said Chanegriha discussed Tuesday in Beijing a diverse military partnership with the Chinese military industry in the field of drones and the management of defense and security systems.

On the third day of his official visit to China, Chanegriha and a delegation from the Algerian Defense Ministry held talks with high-ranking officials from the state-owned enterprise Poly Technologies specialized in the production, import and export of civil and military equipment.

Media sources said the Algerian army hopes to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of Chinese companies that supply the Chinese army with military equipment and technology, through commercial partnerships that will allow Algeria to modernize its army and to reduce dependence on its traditional supplier, the Russian military industry.

The sources also said that Chanegriha was particularly interested in the Aerospace Shenzhou Aerial Vehicle Co., which he visited.

The company is specialized in the production of various equipment related to the installation of drones and space devices.

In recent years, it achieved impressive technical progress, according to experts in the field.

Supervisors at the Algerian defense sector plan to launch a partnership with the company to develop the assembly, research and training activities of the emerging Algerian military industry in the field of drones.

The goal of this endeavor is to lead the North African and Arab Maghreb regions in the use and development of drones.

On Monday, Chanegriha met with General Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of China’s Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission.

Chanegriha highlighted the longstanding and excellent relations between Algeria and China, dating back to the revolution of November 1, 1954.

He emphasized China’s early support for Algeria’s struggle for self-determination and its recognition of the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic in 1958.

Chanegriha underscored that the robust ties between Algeria and China reflect common solidarity for sovereignty, independence, and the recovery of sovereign rights.

He noted that these ties remain relevant in the current global landscape, emphasizing the need for justice, freedom, and cooperation in a multipolar world.



Weaponization of Food in Gaza Constitutes War Crime, UN Rights Office Says

A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches among the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardments in west of Gaza City, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches among the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardments in west of Gaza City, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
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Weaponization of Food in Gaza Constitutes War Crime, UN Rights Office Says

A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches among the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardments in west of Gaza City, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches among the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardments in west of Gaza City, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

The UN human rights office said on Tuesday that the "weaponization" of food for civilians in Gaza constitutes a war crime, in its strongest remarks yet on a new model of aid distribution run by an Israeli-backed organization.

Over 410 people have been killed by gunshots or shells fired by the Israeli military while trying to reach distribution sites of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation since it began work in late May, UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters at a Geneva press briefing.

The death toll has been independently verified by his office, he added.

"Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food," he said, describing the system as "Israel's militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism".

"The weaponization of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constitutes a war crime and, under certain circumstances, may constitute elements of other crimes under international law."

Asked whether Israel was guilty of that war crime, he said: "The legal qualification needs to be made by a court of law."

Israel rejects war crimes charges in Gaza and blames Hamas fighters for harm to civilians for operating among them, which the fighters deny.