Moroccan security forces have disrupted a major ISIS Sahel operation, arresting 12 suspects accused of plotting attacks across North Africa. Officials revealed Monday that the group – operating under the name Lions of the Caliphate in the Maghreb – stockpiled nail bombs, dynamite, and firearms while coordinating with ISIS commanders in Mali and Libya.
Authorities released chilling evidence from raids in nine cities, including:
- Scrubbed-serial rifles and gas cylinder explosives
- ISIS propaganda murals and $10,000+ in cash
- Mali-printed newspapers wrapping border weapons caches
This imminent plot proves Morocco remains prime target for Sahel-based terror networks,stated counterterrorism chief Habboub Cherkaoui during a Casablanca press briefing.
The arrests highlight growing ISIS ambitions beyond traditional Sahel strongholds. Since France's 2022 military withdrawal, extremist groups have exploited political instability in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to:
- Control smuggling routes generating millions
- Recruit marginalized youth through anti-government rhetoric
- Launch cross-border operations into coastal states
Investigators traced the cell's leadership to slain ISIS commander Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi and current Libyan operative Abderrahmane Sahraoui. Most suspects were unmarried men aged 18-40 with limited education – a profile matching regional recruitment patterns.
Morocco's tourism-dependent economy faces heightened risks, with 17 million visitors contributing 7% of GDP last year. While the kingdom hasn't suffered major attacks since 2011, officials emphasize constant vigilance:
We've dismantled 40 cells since 2020 through advanced surveillance,Cherkaoui noted, referencing January's similar operation. Recent military partnerships with Mali aim to strengthen regional intelligence sharing against ISIS Sahel expansion into Somalia and Maghreb nations.
