Polisario militants exposed: Hezbollah-trained fighters implicated in Syrian war crimes

Wednesday 27 August 2025 - 15:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Polisario militants exposed: Hezbollah-trained fighters implicated in Syrian war crimes

Revelations about the role of Polisario fighters in Syria’s civil war have brought new evidence of their involvement in atrocities, linking the separatist group to Iran-backed militias and raising alarms about their destabilizing presence in North Africa and beyond.

A recent investigation by Dutch journalist Rena Netjes, published by Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), uncovers the extensive role of Polisario militants in the Syrian conflict. The report, titled “The Polisario in Syria: How Foreign Fighters Complicate Transitional Justice,” details how these fighters were trained by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley before being deployed alongside Syrian regime forces.

Links to Hezbollah and Iran’s proxy network

The report places the Polisario within Iran’s extensive network of proxies, which includes Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other militias active in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. According to Syrian researchers and intelligence documents, Polisario fighters received specialized training in guerrilla warfare under Hezbollah’s supervision and later operated covertly within Bashar al-Assad’s forces.

A 2012 document from Syrian intelligence, authenticated by experts, confirms the presence of 120 Sahrawi fighters integrated into Syrian Arab Army brigades. Meetings between Polisario leaders and Hezbollah operatives in Beirut further highlight the group’s deep ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Algeria’s role in the alliance

The investigation highlights Algeria’s complicity in fostering this alliance. Syria’s support for Polisario militants was politically motivated, aligning with Algeria’s backing of Assad against Morocco’s opposition to the regime. This partnership allowed Algeria to strengthen its geopolitical influence while shielding Polisario fighters from accountability.

In February, Algeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Attaf reportedly requested the release of Algerian military personnel and Polisario fighters detained in Syria. Syrian authorities rejected these pleas, with reports indicating that high-ranking Algerian officers and hundreds of Polisario militants face trial for war crimes and other offenses.

War crimes and civilian atrocities

Netjes’ report documents the atrocities committed by Polisario fighters in Syria, including their involvement in massacres and acts of terror against civilians. Arrests of dozens of Polisario militants in Aleppo and Idlib revealed their ties to Iranian intelligence and their participation in Assad’s brutal crackdown. Interrogations of captured fighters further exposed their role in war crimes, with many admitting to acts of violence against Syrian civilians.

International implications and Morocco’s warnings

Morocco has long warned of Polisario’s connections to Iran and Hezbollah. In 2018, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita cut diplomatic ties with Iran, accusing it of arming and training Polisario fighters. The DAWN investigation validates these claims, shedding light on the group’s involvement in arms trafficking and destabilization efforts across the Sahel region.

Efforts to hold the Polisario accountable are gaining momentum. US lawmakers have introduced the “Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act,” seeking to categorize the group as a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, Syrian officials have closed Polisario offices in Damascus and reaffirmed their support for Morocco’s territorial integrity.

A fading facade of legitimacy

The DAWN report dismantles Polisario’s claims of legitimacy, exposing the group as a mercenary force aligned with extremist networks. As international pressure mounts, the separatists’ ability to operate with impunity is increasingly under threat.

Netjes concludes that Polisario’s presence in Syria underscores the complexity of post-conflict justice, highlighting the challenges of addressing foreign interventions and proxy warfare. For Syria, achieving justice remains elusive, but the revelations about Polisario’s role mark a critical step toward accountability.