Syria's closure of Polisario premises signals shift in regional dynamics

Syrian authorities confirmed the closure of premises occupied by Polisario separatists in Damascus, marking a significant blow to the militants' diminishing aspirations for legitimacy and regional influence.

This confirmation followed a visit from a Moroccan technical delegation assigned with preparing for the reopening of Morocco’s embassy in Syria after a 13-year hiatus. A joint mission of Moroccan officials and high-ranking Syrian authorities conducted an on-site inspection to verify the effective closure of the separatist group's office.

Syrian officials reiterated their commitment to Morocco’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, explicitly rejecting any support for separatist entities. This action reflects Syria’s determination to enhance bilateral cooperation with Morocco and foster regional stability. The decision by King Mohammed VI to reopen Morocco’s embassy in Damascus signals a new chapter in Moroccan-Syrian relations.

Despite ongoing setbacks, the Algeria-backed Polisario Front continues to attempt to maintain an "international" presence amid growing isolation. The embassy’s reopening, announced on May 17, comes after significant disagreements with the now-collapsed Assad regime led to its closure in 2012. King Mohammed VI emphasized that this diplomatic reestablishment would broaden perspectives in the historical relations between the two nations.

Ongoing disclosures reveal the extent of the former Assad regime’s complicity with the Iran-backed Polisario separatists, exposing numerous covert channels and political favors that sustained the militants' fabricated cause. Evidence increasingly links the separatist militia to Tehran’s destabilizing activities in the region. A comprehensive analysis by the Hudson Institute highlighted that the Polisario receives drones from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) through transfers facilitated by the Algerian regime.

This relationship has transformed the group from mere separatists into a dangerous extension of Iran’s proxy network in North Africa. The threat posed by this axis cannot be understated, as Tehran continues to exploit the Polisario as a strategic tool to project power well beyond its borders.

Security experts have documented how Iran’s revolutionary agenda has militarized the separatist group, providing both material support and tactical training through Hezbollah operatives aimed at undermining Morocco’s territorial integrity and broader regional security architecture. A highly confidential document from January 2012 detailed a secret alliance between the Assad government and the Polisario Front, revealing that militants were trained by the Syrian Arab army in a program coordinated with Hezbollah.

In December 2024, security sources confirmed the capture of approximately 30 Polisario militants by Syrian opposition forces in Aleppo, reportedly abandoned by Assad’s regime during conflicts. These militants were allegedly transported by Algeria with Iranian support, underscoring the deep-rooted connections between the separatists and their backers.

A recent Washington Post report corroborated the collaboration between Iran-backed Hezbollah, the Polisario Front, and Algeria, with sources confirming that Hezbollah trained Polisario fighters to advance its interests. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita has asserted that Morocco presented substantial evidence of Tehran's involvement in arming and training the separatists, detailing a conspiracy that included visits by senior Hezbollah officers to Algeria.

Following the Assad regime’s collapse, the Syrian National Salvation Front urged the interim president to sever ties with the Polisario Front and officially recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces. King Mohammed VI has reiterated Morocco’s support for the Syrian people in their quest for freedom, peace, and stability, expressing readiness to assist Syria during this critical period.

The closure of the Polisario office in Syria marks a resounding defeat for the separatist group, dismantling one of its last propaganda footholds and further isolating its faltering agenda on the international stage. Currently, 113 countries endorse Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most credible political solution to resolve the long-standing dispute.