What is Armed Islamic Group?
The '''Armed Islamic Group''' (GIA, from [[French language|French]] ''Groupe Islamique Armé''; [[Arabic language|Arabic]] الجماعة الإسلامية المسلّحة, ''al-Jama'ah al-Islamiyah al-Musallaha'') was an [[Islamist]] [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization based in [[Algeria]]. It wanted to overthrow the Algerian [[government]] and replace it with an [[Islamic state]]. The GIA adopted violent tactics in 1992 after the military government did not recognise the victory of the [[Islamic Salvation Front]] in the first round of elections held in December 1991. The Islamic Salvation Front was the largest Islamic opposition party at the time. Between 1992 and 1998 the GIA led a violent campaign. They killed many civilians. Sometimes they wiped out entire villages in its area of operation (see [[List of Algerian massacres of the 1990s]]; notably the [[Bentalha massacre]] and [[Rais massacre]], among others). After announcing its campaign against foreigners living in Algeria in 1993, the GIA killed more than 100 expatriate men and women in the country. The group used [[assassination]]s and [[bomb]]ings, including [[car bomb]]s. It is known to have favored [[kidnapping]] victims and slitting their throats. The GIA was considered a terrorist organization by the governments of Algeria, [[France]] and the [[United States]]. Outside of Algeria, the GIA established a presence in [[France]], [[Belgium]], the [[UK]], [[Italy]] and the [[United States]]. [[Category:History of Algeria]] [[Category:Islamic terrorism]] {{military-stub}}