Iran's long game: Hezbollah's covert role in Western Sahara
For years, Iran, through Hezbollah, has supported Algeria's efforts to detach Western Sahara from Morocco. The "Washington Post" report reveals details of this assistance, which included arming and training separatists.
What do you need to know?
- Iran and Hezbollah: Iran, through Hezbollah, supported Algeria by arming and training Western Sahara separatists in an effort to separate this region from Morocco.
- Severance of relations: In 2018, Morocco severed diplomatic relations with Iran due to the military aid Tehran provided to the separatists supported by Algeria.
Evidence of cooperation: Morocco possesses intelligence reports and photos documenting Hezbollah's meetings with Polisario rebels in Algiers.hat is the evidence of Iran's support for the separatists?
According to the "Washington Post" report, Iran has been supporting Algeria's efforts to detach Western Sahara from Morocco for years, using Hezbollah to accomplish this aim.
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita confirmed that Hezbollah established military relations with the Polisario Front through the Iranian embassy in Algeria. Morocco considered this a threat to its security.
In 2018, Morocco decided to sever diplomatic relations with Iran, citing the military aid that Iran and Hezbollah provided to the Polisario Front separatists, supported by Algeria. Morocco had evidence in the form of intelligence reports and photos documenting meetings between Hezbollah representatives and rebels in Algiers.
The separatists also fought in Syria
The Western Sahara separatists were also used by Iran in Syria, where they fought against the rebels. After the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, about 500 Polisario Front fighters were detained by the new authorities in Damascus. Syria's temporary president, Ahmed al-Shara, announced that the detainees would stand trial.
