Japanese News Platform: Polisario’s Involvement in Armed Actions in Syria Revives Its Classification in Japan as an Al-Qaeda-Linked Organization
ALDAR/
A prestigious Japanese media platform published a trilingual article (in Arabic, English, and Japanese) revealing alarming details about the Polisario Front’s involvement in armed conflicts in Syria. This report brings to light the old Japanese classification of the group as an entity linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
The article is based on an in-depth investigation conducted by The Washington Post, which revealed that the new Syrian authorities had arrested hundreds of Polisario members. These individuals were reportedly trained by Iranian experts as part of Tehran’s efforts to expand its regional influence in cooperation with Algeria. The report states that these fighters participated in operations to repress the Syrian people alongside the former regime, prompting the Syrian security forces to take action against them after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Moreover, the International Terrorism Index published by the Japanese Public Security Agency (PSIA) in 2013 and 2014 had already classified the Polisario Front as an entity with close ties to Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb. This classification has gained renewed significance in light of current developments.
The same reports indicate that Polisario fighters were deployed in sensitive areas of southern Syria, including the Thala military base and positions near the Golan Heights, with direct logistical and military support from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. European intelligence sources confirmed that these fighters were not alone on the ground; they were accompanied by Algerian officers, including a senior general, and soldiers from the Algerian army.
The new Syrian authorities, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, rejected Algeria’s attempts to intervene and request the release of the detained Polisario members. They reaffirmed their intention to prosecute them in court according to international laws governing prisoners of war.
In this context, Iran’s role in turning Polisario members into tools to serve its agenda in North Africa becomes increasingly evident. This strategy mirrors its actions with other militias in Iraq and Syria. Recent reports suggest that this alliance goes beyond military activities and extends to dubious financial operations, including investments in the Caribbean and links to Captagon trafficking.
The United States, for its part, is seriously considering classifying the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization amid growing pressure in Congress. This potential decision is seen as logical, especially given the ongoing support from Western countries like France, Spain, and the United States for Morocco’s autonomy proposal to resolve the Sahara conflict.
Numerous analyses have confirmed that the Polisario’s involvement in suspicious regional alliances positions it as a key actor in destabilizing North Africa and the Sahel-Saharan region. This has strengthened international calls to end its activities and classify it among the organizations threatening regional and international security.
