ALGERIAN PATRIOTS - ENGLISH

Relations between Algeria and Morocco during the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962) were far more complex than the romanticized narrative of “Maghrebian unity” often promoted in Moroccan historiography. A recent publication titled “The Algerian War of Liberation in the Moroccan Press: Aspects of Moroccan Support for the Algerian Struggle for Independence”, authored by Mustapha El Aïdi and Abdelilah Kenka, aims to portray Morocco as a key supporter of the Algerian Revolution. However, this interpretation overlooks the historical realities, minimizes Morocco’s ambivalent and often opportunistic stance, and overstates the actual impact of its so-called support. This academic article responds point by point to the claims made in that publication, relying on Algerian, French, and international sources, as well as testimonies from leaders of the Algerian Revolution. 1. The Moroccan Press: Symbolic Sympathy or Opportunistic Coverage? The publication argues that Moroccan newspapers such ...

Despite its reputation for military prowess and technological sophistication, Israel’s strategic culture often reveals traces of an archaic worldview, one in which ancient myths overshadow sober military analysis. Among the most persistent symbolic narratives is the story of Judith and Holofernes, a tale celebrated during Hanukkah. It portrays the assassination of a mighty general by a pious woman as the singular cause of an enemy army’s collapse. This myth, while rich in religious and cultural symbolism, appears to underpin a dangerously flawed assumption in Israeli military doctrine: that the elimination of a single enemy leader can precipitate the downfall of entire armies, movements, or regimes.   From Ancient Myth to Modern Strategy In the Book of Judith, a text revered in Jewish tradition, a courageous and devout woman seduces the Assyrian general Holofernes, intoxicates him, and severs his head in his sleep. The loss of their commander plunges the Assyrian army into chaos an...

Amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel — intensified by repeated airstrikes on Syrian territory and, more recently, within Iran itself — one of the most critical weaknesses in the Islamic Republic’s military posture is its structurally outdated air force. While Iran has made notable advancements in certain military domains, its aerial capabilities remain a strategic Achilles’ heel, especially in the face of a technologically superior adversary like Israel. A Technologically Obsolete Air Force Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the subsequent Western arms embargo, Iran has struggled to modernize its air fleet. Its current lineup includes aging platforms such as the F-4 Phantom, F-5 Tiger, and F-14 Tomcat (American-made), as well as MiG-29s and Su-24s (Russian-made). Indigenous efforts, such as the “Kowsar” fighter jet, have had limited success and remain well below modern standards. The key limitation lies in Iran’s inability to conduct Beyond Visual Range (BVR) engagements — t...

From a Naval Miscalculation to a Strategic Catastrophe – A Reflection on a Long Legacy of Neglecting Vital Interests On October 20, 1827, the Battle of Navarino unfolded in a small bay off the southwestern Peloponnese (in present-day Greece), significantly altering the balance of power in the Mediterranean. Yet, for Algerians, the true significance lies not solely in the military events of that day, but in the deeper question of how Algeria—then an autonomous maritime power under nominal Ottoman suzerainty—became entangled in a war that did not concern it directly, ultimately paying a staggering strategic price from which it would not recover for more than a century. 1. Historical and Political Context of the Battle of Navarino The early 19th century witnessed a surge of national liberation movements across Europe, among them the Greek War of Independence against Ottoman rule, which broke out in 1821. This uprising gained widespread support from European powers, who saw it as an opport...

After four controversial years marked by abuses and repeated security failures, the Russian paramilitary group Wagner has packed up and left Mali. This sudden withdrawal comes in the wake of intense diplomatic and security pressure from Algeria, which reasserts its role as a key regional power and a pillar of stability in the Sahel.   The Weight of Algerian Diplomacy Since Wagner’s arrival in Mali in 2021, Algeria has consistently and firmly denounced the presence of foreign mercenaries in a region it deems vital to its own national security. Algiers has made it clear that it categorically rejects the transformation of the Sahel into a playground for foreign powers and private military firms. According to Akram Kharief, a defense expert and founder of Menadefense, Moscow’s decision to recall Wagner was directly linked to the deterioration of Algerian-Russian relations on the matter, as well as the debacle in Tinzaouatène in July 2024 — a military failure that laid bare Wagner’s tac...

Amid the devastation of Gaza — battered by war, siege, and humanitarian collapse — a shadowy figure has emerged: Yasser Abu Shabab. Once a local gang leader, Abu Shabab now plays a central role in a controversial Israeli strategy aimed at eroding Hamas’s grip on the besieged territory. Yet his involvement also reveals a web of conflicting interests between Israeli intelligence, Palestinian Authority (PA) circles, and local criminal networks — all at the expense of Gaza’s civilians. A Pawn in a Dangerous Game According to a well-informed Palestinian source familiar with Gaza’s internal dynamics, “Yasser Abu Shabab operates covertly on behalf of Mahmoud al-Habbash,” the former Hamas member who later served as Minister of Religious Affairs and is now the religious affairs adviser to PA President Mahmoud Abbas. But this relationship is fraught with controversy. The same source adds, “Mahmoud al-Habbash has been discredited in Palestinian circles because of his known ties to Israeli intelli...

Despite the media theatrics and diplomatic posturing of the Moroccan regime, the Sahrawi cause has once again triumphed on the international stage, reaffirming that truth and justice will always outlive the illusions of expansionism and occupation. The 2024 annual informational report of the UN Security Council, presented to the General Assembly, has once again exposed the Moroccan narrative and effectively buried the so-called “autonomy plan.” The Moroccan permanent representative to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, responded with theatrical outrage, unable to mask the sting of a diplomatic defeat. His protest, thinly veiled in official language, is nothing more than a confession of failure — the failure of a strategy built on misinformation, manipulation, and the politics of coercion.   The Mirage of Autonomy Crumbles Before International Law Despite the illusions fed to Rabat by political sponsors such as Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Pedro Sánchez, the Morocc...

In recent days, international headlines have celebrated what is being portrayed as yet another “diplomatic victory” for Morocco, following the United Kingdom’s shift in tone on the Western Sahara issue. London, it appears, now implicitly supports Rabat’s autonomy proposal. This development echoes similar realignments in several Western capitals. But behind this diplomatic fanfare lies a stark reality: Morocco’s so-called victories are not achievements of principle or legitimacy, but rather the result of calculated concessions—economic, strategic, and political—offered to powerful states in exchange for their endorsement. Morocco’s Bargain: Trading Sovereignty for Support Let us be clear: what Rabat presents as foreign support for its autonomy plan is, in most cases, the outcome of transactional diplomacy. What has Morocco promised to the United Kingdom? Access to the natural resources of Western Sahara? Exclusive investment deals or security partnerships? The same applies to the cases ...