A proposed US bill aiming to list the Polisario militias as a terrorist organization is gaining momentum in Washington, amid growing concerns over the Algeria-backed group’s links with Iran-backed militant networks, according to an opinion piece by George Landrith published in Newsmax.
The legislation, introduced in the House of Representatives by Republican Joe Wilson, seeks to impose sanctions on the Polisario. A similar bipartisan bill has been tabled in the Senate by Congressmen Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.). Congressman Marc Veasey (D-Texas) was the latest to join the U.S. lawmakers pushing for labelling the Polisario armed militias as Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
Landrith describes the initiative as “straightforward, but overdue,” urging US lawmakers to act swiftly in response to what he calls “mounting evidence” of such cooperation.
According to Landrith, the move reflects broader concerns about Iran’s expanding network of proxies, which includes groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and others operating across the Middle East.
He argues that “Tehran’s reach now extends deep into North Africa through the Polisario Front,” portraying the group as part of a wider regional security challenge.
The Newsmax columnist cites intelligence clues alleging coordination between Polisario operatives and Hezbollah, including discussions of joint operations and promises of military support.
Iran has provided the group with weapons, drones and training through intermediaries in camps located in Algeria, he said.
Landrith also links the issue to shifting geopolitical dynamics, particularly Morocco’s normalization of ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords and US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. In this context, he said Iran has intensified efforts to counter these developments through proxy alliances.
“By partnering with Iran’s terror axis, Polisario has transformed from a secular nationalist movement into a destabilizing force,” Landrith writes, warning of risks to regional security and U.S. interests in North Africa.
The proposed bill stops short of immediately designating the Polisario as a foreign terrorist organization. Instead, it establishes what Landrith describes as a “clear, targeted trigger,” under which sanctions would automatically apply if cooperation with Iranian-backed groups is proven.
