US Intelligence Aids Morocco in Dismantling ISIS-Linked Terror Cell

Habboub Cherkaoui indicated that this operation would not have been a success without the cooperation and coordination between the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance of Morocco (DGST) and the American intelligence services. The contribution of the United States demonstrates that there is "an effective international cooperation that bears fruit" in this area of the fight against terrorism.

It emerges from the explanations provided by the director that the 4 accused, aged 24 to 28, were recruited by one of the leaders of the Islamic State who "was in charge of their supervision and the coordination of operations with them". They were supposed to join the armed camps in the Sahel region, but according to Habboub Cherkaoui, "the leaders of the Islamic State changed their minds and tasked them with implementing the Daesh agenda in Morocco".

According to the director, "the Sahel region has become a conducive and privileged place for all terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara led by Adnane Abou Al Walid Al Sahraoui, as well as the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad..." and many others. This is why Haboub Cherkaoui calls for strengthening international cooperation and partnerships in the fight against terrorism.

The BCIJ elements carried out four simultaneous operations, supervised by Habboub Cherkaoui, in the neighborhoods of Sidi Lakhdar, Zitoune, Oued Nachef and Route de Jerada, and arrested four people, including two brothers.