Polisario rocket attack on Smara highlights use of Soviet-era weapons and Algerian involvement

The recent rocket attack on the southern Moroccan city of Smara has reignited concerns over the use of outdated, indiscriminate weaponry by the separatist Polisario Front, with experts calling the act a clear indication of the group’s terrorist tactics and increasing reliance on foreign military backing, particularly from Algeria.

On Friday, four projectiles struck uninhabited areas on the outskirts of Smara, prompting alarm and speculation over the nature and capabilities of the weapons used. While the attack caused no casualties, it has drawn sharp condemnation from security experts and human rights advocates.

According to Moroccan military analyst Abderrahmane Mekkaoui, the attack was carried out using BM-21 Grad rockets, an old Soviet multiple-launch rocket system dating back to the Cold War.

Known locally as “Tebrouri,” the Grad launcher can fire over 40 rockets of 122mm caliber in a single burst, with a range of up to 45 kilometers. Mekkaoui emphasized the weapon’s lack of precision and guidance systems, noting it poses a random and serious risk to civilian areas.

“These attacks reflect the Polisario’s dependence on obsolete and unsophisticated arms, originally supplied by Algeria and remnants of Libya’s dismantled arsenal,” Mekkaoui told Hespress AR. “Many of these weapons were trafficked through Sahelian networks after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.”

Mekkaoui added that the limited number of operational vehicles and equipment in the Polisario’s possession is well-documented by intelligence sources. He further warned that the attack unit is reportedly led by an Algerian artillery commander stationed in the Rabouni refugee camps, which are under Algerian control.

“This underscores Algeria’s direct military coordination and control over Polisario operations,” Mekkaoui said, challenging the group’s repeated claims of independence. “The myth of an autonomous liberation movement collapses when you see such military orders being executed under Algerian command.”

Mekkaoui also pointed to global proliferation of the Grad rocket system, which has been adapted by Iran and deployed in conflict zones such as Yemen, Lebanon, Armenia, and Syria. The use of such indiscriminate weaponry, he said, signals a shift toward terrorism rather than legitimate resistance.

Ramdan Massoud Al-Arabi, head of the Sahrawi Association for the Defense of Human Rights (ASADEH), echoed those concerns. Speaking to Hespress AR, Al-Arabi, a former Polisario member,  described the attack as “further proof of the group’s transformation into a terrorist organization.”

He noted that the group modifies its Soviet-era rockets, such as the BM-11 and BM-21 Grad, to increase range, often at the expense of accuracy and effectiveness.

“This attack was aimed at terrorizing unarmed civilians in Smara,” he said, adding that it reflects desperation in the face of mounting diplomatic and military setbacks. Al-Arabi pointed to growing international pressure, including recent calls in the U.S. Congress and from European officials,  to classify the Polisario as a terrorist organization, citing its alleged ties to Sahelian armed groups and to Iran.

“The indiscriminate targeting of civilians in Morocco’s southern provinces is nothing short of political suicide for a separatist group that has lost all legitimate footing,” Al-Arabi said. “It is now emerging as a clear and present terrorist threat to regional stability.”

The Moroccan government has not officially commented on the attack, but analysts say it further underscores the fragile security dynamics in the Sahara and the need for heightened international scrutiny of the Polisario’s activities and external support networks.