The shocking collapse of Hezbollah in its recent war with Israel echoed throughout Tehran. Yet Iran’s response to the collapse wasn’t defeat; it was redirection. For instance, deep in Algeria’s western desert, another proxy is on the rise: the Polisario Front, which is reportedly fortified by Iran via Hezbollah-trained instructors and drone systems, turning the long-standing Morocco-Western Sahara dispute into a theater for Tehran’s comeback.
Two U.S. lawmakers have already sounded the alarm: Reps. Joe Wilson (R‑SC) and Jimmy Panetta (D‑CA). Citing the same Iran-Hezbollah nexus that now links the Polisario Front to the Syrian battlefield, they introduced bipartisan legislation last month to classify the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization.
Over the years, Iran has cultivated a diverse network of proxy forces to serve its strategic goals. It provided training to members of the Algeria-based Polisario Front, hundreds of whom were reportedly captured by Syria’s new security forces after being deployed to support Assad’s regime, according to the Washington Post.
The bipartisan legislation targets the group’s alleged ties to Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia, aiming to impose sanctions and freeze assets. Wilson described the Polisario Front as a “Marxist militia” destabilizing Morocco, a U.S. ally, for 248 years. The move underscores growing concerns over Iran’s expanding influence in Africa.
The Trump administration’s 2020 recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara marked a pivotal moment in U.S.–Morocco relations. This decision, part of the Abraham Accords, not only solidified Morocco’s territorial claims but also paved the way for enhanced cooperation between Morocco and Israel. The move was widely seen as a strategic alignment against shared regional challenges.
Morocco has long been recognized as a vital U.S. ally in the war on terrorism and a cornerstone of north African regional stability. Its security services have taken the initiative to eradicate extremist cells, stop radicalization, and provide vital intelligence to allies in the West. The kingdom has played a significant role in advancing moderate Islam and halting the rise of violent extremism because of its close ties to both the Arab and Western worlds.
In addition to validating Morocco’s efforts to counter regional threats, designating the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization would greatly limit Iran’s growing influence in North and West Africa. It’s not just a good policy; it’s a geopolitical necessity, especially given the Polisario Front militia’s recent activities, which have intensified concerns.
Last June, the group launched several indiscriminate rocket attacks targeting the city of Smara in Morocco’s Southern Provinces. The missiles landed in an uninhabited area near a United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara facility, causing no casualties or material damage. While the Polisario Front militia claimed responsibility, Moroccan authorities reported that the rockets fell in a remote location, and no harm was done. The United Nations Mission conducted an on-site inspection to assess the situation.
The attack near Smara underscored rising tensions, but the fallout isn’t limited to the battlefield. Algeria’s diplomatic break with France, triggered by Paris’s decision to recognize Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, underscored just how deeply the dispute has fractured regional relations. On July 30, 2024, Algeria withdrew its ambassador to France, calling the move “unexpected” and expressing “great regret” over what it termed a threat to Sahrawi self‑determination.
HOUTHIS RETURN WITH A VENGEANCE. HOW WILL TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RESPOND?
Just as Hezbollah’s setbacks in Lebanon have prompted Iran to shift its focus, so too has the Sahel–Sahara region felt the ripple effects. With Algeria’s cooperation, Tehran is discreetly expanding its influence into Africa, providing training, drones, and funding to groups such as the Polisario Front.
Morocco, a long-standing regional anchor, has stepped up, deepening its relationships with the United States and regional partners, bolstering border security, and promoting integration efforts. In a geopolitical landscape where proxy influence is shifting westward, another unstable front in Africa is a risk the world cannot afford, and Morocco’s role remains its most reliable shield.