Algerian soldiers killed five gunmen during anti-militant operations, the defense ministry and army said Friday, a day after raiding the suspected hideout of ’jihadists’ who beheaded a French hostage.

Algerian soldiers killed five gunmen during anti-militant operations, the defense ministry and army said Friday, a day after raiding the suspected hideout of 'jihadists' who beheaded a French hostage.

Three suspected militants were killed on Friday in the area of Bouria, 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of Algiers, the ministry said in a statement.

Two Kalashnikovs and a semi-automatic rifle were seized, it added.

The fourth militant were killed in a separate raid on Thursday in the Tiaret region, 340 kilometres southwest of Algiers.

A separate statement from the army on Friday said troops killed a fifth militant in the Tiaret region and that soldiers had also seized an assault rifle in the operation.