1991 Tifariti offensive

Operation Rattle
Part of Western Sahara War

Remains of a Moroccan Northrop F-5 shot down in Tifariti by guerilla forces during Operation Rattle.
Date4 August 1991 to 6 September 1991
Location
Result Destruction of Tifariti & Bir Lehlou;[1] temporary depopulation of the Liberated Territories
Belligerents
 Morocco Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Polisario Front / SADR
Strength
10,000–100,000 soldiers[2]
300 tanks
Royal Moroccan Air Force support (14 planes)
Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown killed
Unknown wounded
1 captured[3]
Unknown killed
Unknown wounded
Civilian casualties:
30 killed[4][5][6]
24 wounded[4][6][7]
100 missing[6]

Operation Rattle, also known as the 1991 Tifariti offensive, was the last military operation in the Western Sahara War by the Royal Moroccan Army against the Polisario Front, seeking independence for Western Sahara. A ceasefire (accorded to be in effect from 6 September 1991) had been agreed between the parts on July.[8] During August and the first days of September 1991, the Royal Moroccan Army (RMA) conducted offensive operations in the areas of Mehaires, Tifariti, Bir Lahlou, Mijek and Agwanit, resulting in multiple Sahrawi civilian casualties, the destruction of Tifariti and Bir Lahlou, poisoning of the wells and subsequently depopulation of the area.

  1. ^ Ana Camacho (8 September 1991). "Los saharauis celebran la tregua como "día histórico para la independencia"". El País. Retrieved 11 July 2012. (in Spanish)
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ElPaisofensivaSahara91 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference RMAF losses was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Polisario91Miyek was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference ElPaisSaharamuertosed was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference ABCaviacionoasis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference PolisarioONUTifariti was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ El Frente Polisario denuncia un ataque de la aviación marroquí ABC, 5 August 1991 (in Spanish)

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