Iranian Missiles Target Smara: Dangerous Escalation Exposes Links Between “Polisario” and Tehran

By Aldar / Analysis

In a serious development that underscores the magnitude of terrorist threats facing Morocco’s southern provinces, the “Polisario” militias launched a rocket attack on Friday, directly targeting both civilian facilities and a UN mission site (MINURSO) on the outskirts of Smara—one of the most stable cities in the Moroccan Sahara.

According to corroborated field reports, the attack was carried out using Iranian-made missiles—clear evidence of the military support provided to this separatist front by foreign actors, chiefly the Iranian regime. This aligns blatantly with the agenda of Algeria, which hosts and finances this illegitimate entity.

The rocket attack directly targeted an educational institution, constituting a blatant assault on civilians. Another projectile landed near a site belonging to the UN’s MINURSO mission, which could be classified as an attack on an international organization and a flagrant violation of the UN-brokered ceasefire in place since 1991.

This dual targeting—of both civilian and international entities—exposes the true intentions of the Polisario and places a clear responsibility on the international community in the face of escalating hostilities that could drag the region into further instability.

What is particularly alarming about this escalation—coming just weeks after international intelligence reports warned of Iranian involvement in arming separatist militias with drones and short-range missiles—is the use of “Arash” rockets, a model known to be produced by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. This further supports longstanding suspicions of a “covert strategic alliance” between Tehran and the Polisario, facilitated by Algeria.

This cooperation raises pressing questions about Iran’s broader ambitions in North Africa and its apparent strategy to spread conflict beyond the Middle East, especially as it faces growing international isolation due to its nuclear program and support for armed groups across several regions.

The attack on Smara brings back to the forefront the urgent need to reinforce Morocco’s internal unity and reject any justification or silence regarding crimes committed by militias backed by Iran and Algeria. It is particularly troubling that some Moroccan voices have, regrettably, chosen to defend Iran after it came under American and Israeli strikes—conveniently ignoring its direct role in supporting entities that threaten the nation’s peace and security.

What happened in Smara is not merely an isolated hostile act; it is a strategic escalation that signals a shift in the nature of threats facing Morocco. It also exposes a regional collusion with separatist militias that reject peaceful solutions. What is now required is a firm national and international stance that condemns these terrorist actions and pushes for sanctions against the regimes supporting them—foremost among them, the Iranian regime.