A major joint military exercise with countries around the volatile Sahara desert region is beginning as part of a US programme of counter-terrorism. <br/><br/>The three-week Operation Flintlock aims to improve the ability of the region's armed forces to work together to bring security to the area. <br/><br/>It serves as a base for the group al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and has seen increased terror attacks. Drug smuggling is also growing, moving cocaine from South America to Europe. <br/><br/>Flintlock 10 mainly involves Mauritania, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Chad. Other countries in the region are taking part, but in a more limited way. The operation is part of the United States' Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership, and European nations such as the UK, Germany, France and Spain are also involved.<br/>