The killing of Grine caused a considerable impact in the Aurès, and a serious blow to F.L.N. morale. It could be rated the first major French success of the shooting war so far; yet, in effect, it was something of a flash in the pan. The F.L.N., growing more experienced, wilier and more cautious about accepting combat with superior French forces, became like mountain sheep — always one ledge, one ridge higher up in the wintry mountains than their pursuers. The war in the Aurès began to bog down, to the deep dissatisfaction of Mendès-France and, even more, of the impatient pied noir leaders in Algiers.

XREF: Recalls classic asymmetric-warfare patterns — the Viet Minh and later NLF also avoided set-piece battles with superior French/American power, retreating and waiting out the opponent.

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 329