The Algerian War, after the Toussaint Rouge terror attacks, was centered on the Aurès and to a lesser extent the Kabylia and Constantine Mountains because of a lack of National Liberation Front (FLN) influence in the rest of the country.

That knowledge made the French launch multiple operations into the mountains in the hope of halting the FLN's fledgling rebellion.

The effect of the operation were insignificant, as the military and civil authorities of the region were almost completely ignorant of the social structures of the inhabitants of the Aures, especially the relations established between them and the men of the insurrection, who long before November 1, 1954, were already living in the mountains.

[7] The Algerian response, which was organized by Mostefa Ben Boulaid was mostly irregular hit and run attacks,[8] which were rather successful even though the FLN forces in the region were severely underequipped.

[9] The French failure to destroy the roots of the Algerian rebellion caused FLN to rapidly grow in influence over the country.