The Siege of Laghouat was an episode of the French Pacification of Algeria. General Aimable Pélissier commanding an army of 6000, besieged the city of Laghouat in November 21 1852. The decisive storming of the city occurred in December 4 and the French captured the city after bloody fighting.It is reported that a chemical weapon in the form of chlorine gas had been used against the Algerian resistance, causing the death of 2000 to 3000 inhabitants.