Morocco May Integrate Israeli Missiles with US HIMARS Systems
Morocco is reportedly preparing to integrate Israeli missiles with American-made HIMARS artillery systems, potentially by fiscal year 2027. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) plans to showcase its LORA long-range missile system at the Marrakech Air Show in October, signaling a possible step towards combining LORA capabilities with Morocco's HIMARS.
The LORA missile system is designed for ranges of approximately 400-500 kilometers, offering precision within ten meters. Integrating LORA would significantly extend Morocco's strike capabilities beyond the roughly 300-kilometer range of standard HIMARS launchers. The LORA system has seen combat use, notably by Azerbaijan during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
IAI has stated its participation aims to foster local cooperation, industrial collaboration, knowledge exchange, and technology transfer. Morocco already operates Israeli defense systems, including Elbit's PULS system, which was operationally demonstrated in March 2025. PULS is a comprehensive system capable of launching unguided rockets, precision-guided munitions, and missiles up to 300 kilometers, adaptable to existing wheeled or tracked platforms.
In separate news, analysts warn that a prolonged closure of the Bab al-Mandab strait due to Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities could trigger a global fuel crisis. This exacerbates existing shortages in petroleum products like diesel. Refining margins have surged, with the spread between refined product value and crude oil cost reaching a high of $108.02 per barrel recently. Experts note that the refined products market is particularly vulnerable to further disruptions, with significant daily deficits in supply from Russia and the Middle East.
Additionally, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, during a visit to Damascus, accused Israel of indirectly aiding ISIS by weakening Syria's ability to combat the group through its military actions in the country. Fidan claimed Israeli attacks undermine stabilization efforts in Syria and accused Israel of seeking territorial expansion at the expense of its neighbors, calling on the international community to pressure Israel. The report from MEMO noted that Fidan provided no evidence for his claims.
