She was a part of the FLN's bomb network and during the Algerian War of Independence, she worked with Ali La Pointe, Hassiba Ben Bouali, and Yacef Saâdi, head of the Autonomous Zone of Algiers.

[4] In her memoir, Drif cites her family and friends as a key influence on her ideals, in particular her mother but also her brother who was also involved in the freedom struggle and suffered with mental health difficulties as a result.

Later, with her friend Samia Lakhdari Drif joined the FLN, initially participating mainly through delivering packages and supporting the struggle in distant ways.

[6] In her memoir, Drif supports the belief that women brought a unique asset to the movement and were able to complete tasks and operate under less suspicion than their male colleagues.

[7] This became especially important when Drif was involved in the bombing campaign and was able to disguise herself in European clothing to discreetly access parts of the city she would have otherwise not be allowed to go.

[8] Furthermore, the use of violence against women, especially young female students, was seen as especially damaging to the Colonial image and therefore employed by the FLN as a valuable propaganda tool to build sympathy for their efforts.

[10] On 30 September 1956, Drif's unit, consisting of her and two other female revolutionaries, Samia Lakhdari and Djamila Boupacha, was directed to carry out a bombing.

In her memoir she recalls visiting the site prior to the attack and practicing her exact movements under timed conditions to perfect her act.

Furthermore, she reflects on this attack as a decisive turning point as it triggered an international interest into the ‘Algerian Situation’ and brought the issue of independence to the world stage.

[13] Furthermore, Drif recalls the ease with which the Colonial Authorities accused the innocent Algerian Communist Party member Raymonde Peschard as alarming.

In particular her efforts were directed toward the establishment of the distinct women's branch of the FLN which would campaign against arrest, torture, and abuse by the hands of Colonial Authorities.

[16] Prior to her arrest, Drif was aware of the fact she was increasingly pursued by colonial authorities and from April 1957 she had had close calls with capture.

[17] Drif's final safe house was on 4 rue Canton which she moved to in April 1957 and stayed in until her eventual capture and arrest on 22 September 1957.

[19] In August 1958, Drif was sentenced to 20 years of hard labour by the military tribunal of Algiers for terrorism, and was locked up in the women's section of the Barbarossa prison.

She published a 20-page treatise, entitled The death of my brothers (French: la Mort de mes frères), in 1960, while still in prison.

[22] After her liberation from prison, Drif went on to create an organization for youth who were orphaned during the Algerian War of Independence, while also working as a criminal lawyer in Algiers.