Algeria’s army has accelerated the construction of underground bunkers and reinforced hangars near its border with Morocco, signaling unease in Algiers over Morocco’s growing military capabilities, Moroccan news outlets reported.
Citing recent satellite imagery circulated on social media, Médias24 said the Algerian army appears to be shifting toward underground infrastructure along the eastern frontier with Morocco.
The images show what the outlet described as a network of buried shelters and hardened facilities, marking a departure from the surface‑level deployments Algeria has relied on for decades.
According to Médias24, the construction campaign coincides with a significant technological upgrade of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR). The outlet said Moroccan acquisitions of advanced weapons systems – including HIMARS high-mobility rocket launchers, cruise missiles and a new generation of combat drones – have enhanced Rabat’s ability to conduct long-range, precision strikes, prompting Algeria to seek to protect sensitive assets.
Investing in hangars reflects Algeria’s concerns that exposed military infrastructure could be vulnerable to what it described as Morocco’s increasingly “surgical” strike capabilities. By relocating assets underground, Algeria appears to be attempting to mitigate risks posed by precision‑guided munitions, the outlet reported.
The publication quoted Moroccan military analyst Abdelhamid Harifi, who said the bunker construction should be viewed against a backdrop of heightened tensions and recurring friction around disputed border areas.
The fortifications could form part of preparations for low‑intensity border conflict scenarios, but questioned their strategic effectiveness, he said.
“Such installations are only effective if one assumes the other side will initiate hostilities,” Harifi said, according to Médias24. He added that modern military doctrines and penetrating weapons systems mean hardened underground facilities may not provide decisive protection.
