The Battle of Mahbes was fought on 12 January 1985 during the Western Sahara War. As part of its Grand-Maghreb offensive, the Polisario Front, with heavy means (tanks and ground-to-air missiles), breaks through the wall of sand defended by the Royal Moroccan armed forces.
The town of Al Mahbes is located behind the 4th sand wall which was being completed.
Polisario forces in this regions was pushed back into their Algerian bases. They will make one last attempt to break through this confinement.[4]
According to the Moroccan Army, the Polisario Front engaged three motorised battalions (on Land Rover), one battalion of T-55 tanks and one mechanised battalion on BMP-1.[1]
Battle
The Polisario Front attacked a Moroccan detachment participating in the construction of the wall north of Wadi Tenuechad, 8 kilometres from the Algerian border. The battle took place on a front of about fifteen kilometres from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. then, according to Morocco, the attackers withdrew towards Algeria.[2]
A Moroccan Mirage F1 fighter jet was shot down by Sahrawi 2K12 Kub missile. Morocco claimed that it was fired "from a bordering territory", alluding to Algeria.[3]
Casualties and consequences
Morocco announces that the Polisario's losses are 66 men, 6 T-55s, 2 BMP-1s and 6 other vehicles.[1]
Rabat acknowledges that 25 Moroccan soldiers were killed and 48 wounded, while the Polisario communiqué announces the death of 311 soldiers, the capture of 3 other soldiers and the destruction of 17 tanks, 14 armoured personnel carriers and 21 other royal vehicles.[2] This attack shows that the Polisario is still capable of launching heavy attacks and that the Moroccan defence wall is not impassable.
References
^ abcPino, Domingo del (1985-01-14). "Marruecos reconoce haber perdido un Mirage y 25 hombres ante el Polisario". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
^ abc"Rabat et le Polisario ont admis que de violents combats viennent d'avoir lieu". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1985-01-15. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
^ ab"Le missile qui a abattu un Mirage marocain venait d'un " territoire limitrophe " accuse Rabat". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1985-01-16. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
^"Libya: Between the Maghreb and black Africa". Strategic Survey. 85 (1): 100–106. 1984-01-01. doi:10.1080/04597238408460658. ISSN 0459-7230.
January 06, 2023
battle, mahbes, 1985, battle, mahbes, fought, january, 1985, during, western, sahara, part, grand, maghreb, offensive, polisario, front, with, heavy, means, tanks, ground, missiles, breaks, through, wall, sand, defended, royal, moroccan, armed, forces, part, w. The Battle of Mahbes was fought on 12 January 1985 during the Western Sahara War As part of its Grand Maghreb offensive the Polisario Front with heavy means tanks and ground to air missiles breaks through the wall of sand defended by the Royal Moroccan armed forces Battle of Al Mahbes 1985 Part of the Western Sahara WarDate12 January 1985LocationAl Mahbes Western Sahara27 24 58 N 9 03 04 W 27 416 N 9 051 W 27 416 9 051 Coordinates 27 24 58 N 9 03 04 W 27 416 N 9 051 W 27 416 9 051BelligerentsWestern Sahara MoroccoCasualties and losses66 killed 6 T 55s 2 BMP 1s 6 other vehicles 1 Moroccan claim 25 Killed 48 wounded Moroccan claim 311 killed 3 captured 2 1 Moroccan Mirage F1 shot down 3 17 tanks14 armoured personnel carriers21 other royal vehicles Polisario claim class notpageimage Location within Western Sahara Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Casualties and consequences 4 ReferencesBackground Edit Stages of construction of the Moroccan Western Sahara Wall The town of Al Mahbes is located behind the 4th sand wall which was being completed Polisario forces in this regions was pushed back into their Algerian bases They will make one last attempt to break through this confinement 4 According to the Moroccan Army the Polisario Front engaged three motorised battalions on Land Rover one battalion of T 55 tanks and one mechanised battalion on BMP 1 1 Battle EditThe Polisario Front attacked a Moroccan detachment participating in the construction of the wall north of Wadi Tenuechad 8 kilometres from the Algerian border The battle took place on a front of about fifteen kilometres from 7 a m to 4 p m then according to Morocco the attackers withdrew towards Algeria 2 A Moroccan Mirage F1 fighter jet was shot down by Sahrawi 2K12 Kub missile Morocco claimed that it was fired from a bordering territory alluding to Algeria 3 Casualties and consequences EditMorocco announces that the Polisario s losses are 66 men 6 T 55s 2 BMP 1s and 6 other vehicles 1 Rabat acknowledges that 25 Moroccan soldiers were killed and 48 wounded while the Polisario communique announces the death of 311 soldiers the capture of 3 other soldiers and the destruction of 17 tanks 14 armoured personnel carriers and 21 other royal vehicles 2 This attack shows that the Polisario is still capable of launching heavy attacks and that the Moroccan defence wall is not impassable References Edit a b c Pino Domingo del 1985 01 14 Marruecos reconoce haber perdido un Mirage y 25 hombres ante el Polisario El Pais in Spanish ISSN 1134 6582 Retrieved 2020 07 22 a b c Rabat et le Polisario ont admis que de violents combats viennent d avoir lieu Le Monde fr in French 1985 01 15 Retrieved 2020 07 22 a b Le missile qui a abattu un Mirage marocain venait d un territoire limitrophe accuse Rabat Le Monde fr in French 1985 01 16 Retrieved 2020 07 22 Libya Between the Maghreb and black Africa Strategic Survey 85 1 100 106 1984 01 01 doi 10 1080 04597238408460658 ISSN 0459 7230 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Al Mahbes 1985 amp oldid 1106460061, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
