Polisario fighters have been captured by the Syrian opposition forces in Aleppo, several news outlets have reported recently, quoting former Iraqi MP Omar Abdul Sattar.
Security sources confirmed to Moroccan news websites that around thirty polisario militiamen have been arrested in Aleppo by the Syrian opposition attempting to advance on Damascus to oust Bashar Al-Assad’s regime.
The polisario fighters, after completing special training under the supervision of Iranian military advisors in the Tindouf camps, entered Syria a few months ago using Algerian passports, the same sources said, adding that their mission was to confront a possible offensive by opposition forces against Bashar Al-Assad’s regime.
As soon as the news surfaced, Algeria tried to hush up the scandal and exerted diplomatic efforts to secure their release. Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf reportedly contacted his Syrian counterpart, and Algeria’s Ambassador to Syria, to downplay the presence of the militants, claiming they were part of the 500 Algerians settled in Aleppo. Algeria also reportedly sought Turkey’s mediation for the militants’ release due to its influence over Syrian opposition groups.
Head of Syria’s National Salvation Front, Fahad Almasri, revealed more details about Iran’s involvement in the presence of the Polisario fighters in Syria, disclosing that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had sent around 200 Polisario militants to southern Syria, with support from both Algeria and Iran, reported the Morocco World News website. These forces were stationed at key locations such as the Thaala military airport and the air defense battalion in Sweida. Almasri also stated that Iran had been training Polisario militants at Syrian army bases in rural Daraa for the past three years.
Morocco severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 2018 over Tehran’s support for the Polisario, including providing arms and training through Hezbollah. Algeria has been a key facilitator in this alliance, supporting operational links between the Polisario, Hezbollah, and Iran.
Analysts suggest that by supporting the Polisario militarily, Tehran aims to create a new zone of instability that could threaten regional security, particularly Morocco’s territorial integrity.
These developments have renewed calls for the Polisario Front, which has long been involved in regional conflicts, including fighting alongside Gaddafi’s forces in Libya in 2011, to be officially designated as a terrorist organization, especially given its documented ties to Iran and its militant activities.