ALGIERS, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Algerian army on Monday killed two "terrorists" in a counterterrorism operation in the country's north, while a soldier was killed during the operation, the Algerian Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the operation took place during a search and sweep mission in the Beni Milek area of Damous municipality, about 70 km northwest of Algiers.

Army troops killed two armed militants and seized an FMPK machine gun and a Kalashnikov rifle, said the statement, confirming that a staff-sergeant officer was killed in the clash.

According to the ministry, the operation is still underway and "demonstrates the determination and vigilance of the People's National Army in combating terrorism and all forms of crime."

The Algerian military routinely carries out sweep operations in the mountainous and forested regions of northern Algeria to track remnants of armed groups that posed a major security threat in the 1990s. ■