The Mauritanian army said Thursday it had destroyed an Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) base in western Mali, where an attack was being planned against Mauritania.

"Our national armed forces have destroyed enemy elements who were preparing to launch an attack against our country from the Wagadou forest," the military said in a statement on national radio.

"Our armed forces carried out pre-emptive air strikes against this enemy to destroy it."

There was no word on casualties.

A high-ranking military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the raid was launched on the basis of detailed military intelligence, and "two vehicles filled with terrorists" had been destroyed.

He said there had been no losses on the Mauritanian army side.

In June Mauritanian troops conducted a raid in the same forest, which borders the two countries, saying it had destroyed an AQIM base housing heavy weaponry.

The army reported 15 deaths among the AQIM fighters and two of its own.

Both nations' armies have since kept close watch over the area, where AQIM has tried to set up a new base, according to military sources.

Mali and Mauritania are among the nations hardest hit by AQIM activities, along with Niger and Algeria, where the terrorist network has carried out attacks, kidnappings of westerners and trafficking.

AQIM is currently holding four French citizens kidnapped in northern Niger in September 2010.