Atlas of Battles

battle, Cold War

Battle of Guelta Zemmur

Battle of Guelta Zemmur was a battle fought on 13 October 1981 in what is now Morocco; it lasted 16 days. It was part of the Western Sahara War, which ran from 1975 to 1991. The recorded result: Polisario victory. Recorded strength: 2,400–2,600 against 3,000; ~10 T-54, T-55 tanks; SA-6.

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Fought13 October 1981lasted 16 days
WhereMorocco25.140N, 12.370W
OutcomePolisario victory
BelligerentsMoroccoagainstSahrawi Arab Democratic Republic; Polisario Front
Casualties and losses200 killed; 200 captured; 3–5 aircraftandUnknown
Part ofWestern Sahara War1975 to 1991

Where it sits in the Western Sahara War

Battles of La Güera and Tichla, 1975Battle of Ain Ben Tili, 1976First Battle of Amgala, 1976Second Battle of Amgala, 1976Battle of Bucraa, 1977Battle of Zouérat, 1977Battle of Tan-Tan, 1979Battle of Tichla, 1979Battle of Bir Anzarane, 1979Battle of Smara, 1979Battle of Al Mahbes, 1979Battle of Bucraa, 1979Siege of Zag, 1979Battle of Akka, 1980Battle of Cape Boujdour, 1980Battle of Gueltat Zemmour, 1980Battle of Gueltat Zemmour, 1981Battle of Smara, 1981Battle of Guelta Zemmur, 1981Smara and Bou Craa attacks, 1982Battle of Lemseied, 1983Battle of Smara, 1983Battle of Z'Moul Niran, 1984Battle of Hausa (1984), 1984Battle of Al Mahbes, 1985Battle of Farsia, 1987Battle of Tichla, 1987Battles of Farsia and Oum Dreyga, 1987Haouza attack, 1988Battle of Oum Dreyga, 1988Battle of Guelta Zemmour, 1989Battle of Hausa, 1989Battle of Amgala, 198919751989Battle of Guelta Zemmur, 1981
33 placed engagements of the Western Sahara War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date13 October 1981
to 29 October 1981
PlaceMorocco
25.140N, 12.370W
KindBattle, Cold War
Strength2,400–2,6003,000; ~10 T-54, T-55 tanks; SA-6
Casualties and losses200 killed; 200 captured; 3–5 aircraftUnknown
Battle of Guelta ZemmurBattle of Guelta ZemmurBattle of Oum DreygaBattle of Oum Dreyga100 km25.140N, 12.370W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1981

Battle of Guelta Zemmur is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 143 in present-day Morocco.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q56305224, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Guelta Zemmur (1981), revision 1375835021, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.