The attack was the first major military engagement in the war since 1988, as the Polisario Front had ended negotiations with Morocco in that year.

Mauritania withdrew in 1979, and Morocco eventually secured control of most of the territory, including all the major cities and natural resources.

The war was fought at a moment when Polisario felt that the second peace talks were deliberately delayed by King Hassan of Morocco.

[4] After Morocco built fortified sand walls in the northwestern border towards Western Sahara, the Polisario Front responded by attacking the Moroccan base at Guelta Zemmour.

Morocco maintained the wall, Polisario left 18 tanks and other armored vehicles destroyed by Gazelle helicopters on the field.