TS::SCI::SMARNA AMBUSH AFTER ACTION REPORT AND ANALYSIS::TS::SCI:: - June 25th, 2025

[SSgt Waller]

AFTER ACTION REPORT (AAR): Smara Ambush
Classification: SECRET – Operational Use Only
Date/Time of Incident: June 22nd, 2025 / 21:00 local time
Location: Highway south of Smara, Western Sahara
Unit Involved: Moroccan Interior Ministry Convoy w/ U.S. State Dept. presence including protective detail

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Composition of Convoy

• 2x Off-road vehicles (lead)

• 2x Armored SUVs (carrying Minister + U.S. personnel)

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Enemy Forces

• Assessed Polisario Front combat element

• 2x Elements (~8–10 fighters)

• 4x Technicals (DSchK HMGs)

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Timeline of Events

• 21:00 – Moroccan Interior Ministry convoy departs Smara with U.S. State Dept. personnel embedded.

• 21:40 – Convoy encounters deliberate road obstruction (abandoned vehicle/debris), halting lead elements.

• 21:41 – Convoy executes herringbone dispersal maneuver in accordance with SOP. OPFOR initiates ambush, exploiting predictable formation.

• 21:41–21:42 – Ambush triggered:

  • Linear element delivers suppressive fire from covered positions to the front of the convoy.

  • Enfilade element fires from newly created breach points — enemy employed wall charges to open fields of fire and establish the perpendicular leg of the L-shape.

• 21:44 – Moroccan security detail attempts suppression; lead and trail vehicles effectively pinned.

• 21:46–21:49 – Four technicals maneuver to flank possible escape routes; controlled, disciplined fire indicates rehearsed battle drill.

• 21:50 – OPFOR begins coordinated withdrawal under covering fire. Technicals exfiltrate south.

• 22:11 – Moroccan QRF arrives. Ambush site cleared, but enemy already disengaged.

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Enemy Tactics

• The ambush was executed in a textbook L-shape, with direct fire from a linear element along the route and enfilading fire from a perpendicular support-by-fire position.

• Enemy demonstrated knowledge of U.S. convoy drills, exploiting predictable herringbone reactions by concentrating fires on dispersal points.

• Effective use of terrain for concealment and kill zones indicates advanced small-unit training and deliberate reconnaissance.

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Assessment of Security Compromise

• The convoy route and timing appear to have been compromised in advance. Indicators suggest a security leak within Moroccan channels.

• Enemy positioning and timing were too precise to have been coincidental; route intelligence was likely passed with actionable detail.

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Operational Analysis

• The ambush represents a significant escalation in OPFOR capability.

• The proficiency in both planning and execution suggests a commander with advanced training, possibly foreign-advised.

• The OPFOR commander’s understanding of U.S. convoy tactics raises the likelihood of exposure to U.S. doctrine — through captured manuals, observation, or external military instruction.

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Recommendations

• Immediate priority: Identification of the OPFOR commander responsible. His capture or kill is assessed as critical to degrading enemy operational cohesion.

• Counterintelligence measures: Conduct a full investigation into Moroccan administrative and military channels for leaks.

• Convoy protocol adjustment: Reduce predictability of movements; introduce deception measures and varied route planning.

• U.S. advisory role: Enhanced training for Moroccan escorts in counter-ambush drills beyond standard herringbone, incorporating irregular and adaptive responses.

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Conclusion:
This was not a random attack but a deliberate, well-planned ambush, executed with precision. The enemy demonstrated tactical proficiency on par with professional armed forces, pointing to both advanced intelligence gathering and advanced training within the Polisario command structure. Neutralizing the responsible commander is essential to restoring operational security and deterring further high-profile attacks.