Battle of Tan-Tan

Overview

The Battle of Tan-Tan took place between 28 and 31 January 1979, pitting the troops of the Polisario Front against the Moroccan army in Tan-Tan and its surrounding areas in Morocco.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Tan-Tan marked a significant incursion by Polisario Front forces into Moroccan territory proper, extending the Western Sahara War beyond the disputed territory into southern Morocco. The engagement, involving SADR commanders Lahbib Ayoub and Sidi Ahmed El Batal against Moroccan forces under Abdelaziz Bennani, demonstrated the Polisario Front's capacity to project force across the border and strike at Moroccan soil. The wide disparity in reported force sizes on the SADR side reflects the uncertainty surrounding the engagement, while Moroccan forces numbered approximately 150. No outcome was recorded, leaving the battle's immediate tactical result unclear, though the operation itself signaled the broader reach of the Polisario campaign during this phase of the war.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)