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US Delivers 4 Advanced Reconnaissance Aircraft to Tunisia

One of the four C208 aircraft donated by the United States (TAP)
One of the four C208 aircraft donated by the United States (TAP)
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US Delivers 4 Advanced Reconnaissance Aircraft to Tunisia

One of the four C208 aircraft donated by the United States (TAP)
One of the four C208 aircraft donated by the United States (TAP)

Tunisia on Monday took delivery of four C208 aircraft donated by the US and equipped with control, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.

“The aircraft are endowed with modern systems which will strengthen the National Army's military and operational capabilities in countering terrorism and cross-border crime,” Tunisian Defense Minister Khaled Shili said at a ceremony held Monday at the Aouina airbase with the attendance of US Ambassador Joey Hood.

The C208 will strengthen operational and logistical capacities in intelligence, reconnaissance and aerial surveillance, he added, considering the accuracy of execution and speedy data processing and analysis.

They will thus contribute to improving security and peace at home and in the region.

The delivery takes place under the Tunisia-US cooperation and in application of the military cooperation program agreed during the 34th session of the Tunisia-US Joint Military Commission held in 2020.

Shili commended coordination with the US which led to the conclusion of what he called a “successful transaction,” as was the case in previous transactions involving C130 aircraft, training aircraft and speedboats.

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Flooding Kills More Than 20 People in Morocco and Algeria 

A desert area is flooded after a heavy rainfall in Tazarine, Zagora, southern Morocco, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP)
A desert area is flooded after a heavy rainfall in Tazarine, Zagora, southern Morocco, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP)
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Flooding Kills More Than 20 People in Morocco and Algeria 

A desert area is flooded after a heavy rainfall in Tazarine, Zagora, southern Morocco, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP)
A desert area is flooded after a heavy rainfall in Tazarine, Zagora, southern Morocco, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP)

Torrential downpours hit North Africa's normally arid mountains and deserts over the weekend, causing flooding that killed nearly two dozen people in Morocco and Algeria and destroyed homes and critical infrastructure.

In Morocco, officials said the two days of storms surpassed historic averages, in some cases exceeding the annual average rainfall. The downpours affected some of the regions that experienced a deadly earthquake one year ago.

Meteorologists had predicted that a rare deluge could strike North Africa’s Sahara Desert, where many areas receive less than an inch of rain a year.

Officials in Morocco said 18 people were killed in rural areas and 56 homes collapsed. Nine people were missing. Drinking water and electrical infrastructure were damaged, along with major roads.

Among the dead in the region, where many tourists go to enjoy desert landscapes, were foreigners from Canada and Peru.

Rachid El Khalfi, Morocco’s Interior Ministry spokesperson, said in a statement on Monday that the government was working to restore communication and access to flooded regions in the “exceptional situation” and urged people to use caution.

In neighboring Algeria, which held a presidential election over the weekend, authorities said at least five died in the country's desert provinces. Interior Minister Brahim Merad called the situation “catastrophic” on state-owned television.

Algeria’s state-run news service APS said the government had sent thousands of civil protection and military officers to help with emergency response efforts and rescue families stuck in their homes. The floods also damaged bridges and trains.