Buffer zone: Moroccan drone targets two vehicles near Garezrez

A Moroccan drone Garezrez strike on Tuesday morning targeted two vehicles in the buffer zone near the Mauritanian border, injuring two people but causing no fatalities. The incident underlines the high-security nature of this remote area, far from the routes usually taken by Moroccans living abroad when visiting the country.

Moroccan drone Garezrez strike hits two vehicles

According to converging local reports, a drone operated by the Royal Armed Forces targeted two vehicles in the Garezrez area.

This sector lies inside the buffer zone, around 30 kilometres from Morocco’s security wall and nearly 40 kilometres from the Mauritanian border.

The two vehicles were reportedly carrying gold prospectors coming from the Tindouf camps. The strike caused heavy material damage to the vehicles.

Two people were injured, but no deaths have been reported so far. Available information does not point to any broader military escalation in the area.

A remote zone, away from usual MRE travel routes

For Moroccans abroad planning a trip or a longer stay in the south, this incident took place far from standard travel routes.

The Garezrez buffer zone is a strictly monitored strip of desert, separate from national roads that link Morocco’s main cities to the Mauritanian border.

Family and tourist journeys, whether by air or road, do not cross this buffer zone. Moroccan authorities maintain a strong security presence to protect official routes and border crossings.

For Moroccans living abroad who consider driving to the far south during extended stays, a few precautions are advisable:

• check road and security conditions before planning a Sahara road trip;
• stick to routes recommended by local authorities;
• avoid driving off marked roads and pistes;
• follow security forces’ instructions at checkpoints.

MREs who mainly travel by plane and stay in major southern cities such as Laayoune or Dakhla are not directly concerned by this buffer strip, which lies in a sparsely populated desert zone.

Mauritanian border: tighter controls and localised risks

This is not the first incident of this kind in the region. The Mauritanian government had already stepped up border surveillance to stop gold prospectors entering the buffer zone.

These measures take place against a backdrop of attempted infiltrations by the Polisario Front into Mauritanian territory and efforts to use the buffer strip to fire mortars at Moroccan forces stationed behind the sand wall.

So far, no official changes have been announced regarding travel conditions to southern Morocco. Moroccans abroad can continue to prepare their trips as usual, while keeping an eye on official updates if they plan to drive very far south.

For practical questions about returning to Morocco, MREs can use the dedicated portal for Moroccans abroad or consult the relevant administration’s website, alongside Canal212’s own guidance on key procedures.

At this stage, the Garezrez incident mainly illustrates the constant security vigilance inside the buffer zone. It has no direct impact on ordinary travellers, but it does serve as a clear reminder: sticking to official routes is the safest choice for any trip to Morocco’s deep south.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.