the so-called "", from the algerian-arabic dialect word "harki" (soldier), were indigenous muslim algerians who fought alongside the french during the colonial period. the term also came to include civilian indigenous algerians who supported a french algeria, such as spahis, tirailleurs, and moghaznis. according to french archives, there were around 200,000 algerian muslims who fought alongside the french army during the algerian war and, by extension, their families. the french recruited and trained "harkis" by using guerrilla tactics similar to those of the fln. they were an ideal instrument of counterinsurgency warfare for the french.