فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Morocco, in collaboration with the United States and France, is exploring the construction of an airport in the southernmost part of the Sahara to launch airstrikes using drones and fighter jets against jihadist bases in the Sahel. This initiative targets countries such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, aiming to neutralize what is considered a significant threat not only to these nations but also to Morocco, which jihadists view as an obstacle to their expansion toward Europe—one of their primary objectives.
A recent operation conducted by Moroccan intelligence services in several cities led to the discovery of a cache of weapons and thwarted a series of attacks planned by a leader of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). This operation confirmed suspicions that Morocco’s southern neighbor is actively working to destabilize the region for the aforementioned goals. With intelligence provided by the Directorate-General for External Security, Morocco’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau successfully dismantled a terrorist cell operating in nine Moroccan cities. Twelve suspects were arrested, and a significant arsenal of explosives, sophisticated weapons, and confidential documents were seized from a secret logistics center in Errachidia, a border area near Algeria and close to the coast. The network was led by the head of external operations for IS in the Sahel, who masterminded and organized the planned attacks.
According to an analysis by Al-Sharqawi Al-Rudani, an expert in geostrategic and security studies, published by HesPress, “There is no doubt that terrorist groups also have Morocco in their crosshairs as part of a broader destabilization strategy aimed at creating a bridgehead toward Europe.” As the last barrier before the European continent, Morocco plays a crucial role in countering cross-border jihadist flows.
“In an already fragile geopolitical context, the threat of the Islamic State is finding increasingly fertile ground in the heart of the Sahel, exacerbated by weak state structures and international inertia,” he added.
“If urgent and coordinated measures are not taken,” he emphasized, “the situation could become irreversible. By strategically shifting its activities to this region, the organization is not only sowing terror locally but also laying the groundwork for a global tragedy.”
“Today more than ever, it is imperative that the international community understands the scale of this threat and acts in unison. The expansion of IS beyond coastal borders, particularly toward Europe and the Atlantic, is not just a possibility but an emerging reality. If the international community does not act decisively and immediately, the entire world could face the consequences of this pandemic, long considered improbable but now a clear and present danger. The Sahel will no longer be just a laboratory for terrorism but a launchpad for unprecedented global destabilization.”
“It is time to speak frankly, even as skeptics and cynics continue to downplay the severity of the situation. Time is running out, and the inaction of the international community could plunge the world into an unprecedented security crisis. The Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa could become a new Afghanistan.”
