Battle of Guelta Zemmur (1981)

For other uses, see Battle of Guelta Zemmur.
Battle of Guelta Zemmour
Part of the Western Sahara War
Date13–23 October 1981 (10 days)
Location
Guelta Zemmur, Western Sahara
Result Polisario victory[1][2]
Belligerents
 Morocco POLISARIO
Strength
2,400–2,600 3,000
~10 T-54, T-55 tanks
SA-6
Casualties and losses
200 killed
200 captured
3–5 aircraft[3][4]		 Unknown

The Battle of Guelta Zemmur occurred between 13 and 23 October 1981 when Polisario Front attacked the Moroccan garrison at Guelta Zemmur in Western Sahara. Using heavy military equipment including tanks and surface-to-air missiles, the Polisario Front defeated the Moroccan garrison forces entrenched around the town. Three to Five Moroccan planes were shot down, including a C-130 Hercules. Moroccan armed forces then aggressively counterattacked and drove the Polisario out of the town, but later abandoned it as they retrenched behind the belt.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Dean, David J. (October 1986). "Morocco-Polisario war: a case study of a modern low-intensity conflict". The Air Force Role in Low-Intensity Conflict (PDF). Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Air University Press. p. 47. ISBN 1-58566-014-0.
  2. ^ Harold D. Nelson (1985). Morocco, a Country Study. American University (Washington, D.C.). Foreign Area Studies. p. 300.
  3. ^ Markham, James M. (15 November 1981). "400-mile wall changing war in Western Sahara". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Delcour, Roland (30 October 1981). "La visite de M. Cheysson à Rabat : Hassan II confirme sa volonté de voir organiser rapidement un référendum au Sahara occidental". Le Monde (in French).