CAIRO [MENL] -- Algeria's leading Islamic insurgency group was said to have moved operations to Mauritania.

Mauritania has accused the Salafist Brigade for Combat and Call of infiltrating the North African state. Officials said the Salafists have been directed by Al Qaida to attack military bases and other critical facilities in the pro-U.S. ally.

On June 4, about 150 Salafist operatives stormed a military base in northeastern Mauritania near the Algerian border. Officials said 15 soldiers and five operatives were killed and six military vehicles were stolen.

Mauritanian Defense Minister Baba Ould Sidi told a news conference in Nouakchott that the Salafist force overpowered the military force of 50 and began executing the captured soldiers. Ould Sidi said the insurgents then fled toward Algeria and Mali.