Battle of Dhar Obeidallah

On 27 April 1921, French troops under Colonel Laverdure launched a punitive expedition against Zayan tribes entrenched in the mountainous sector of Dhar Obeidallah. Poorly informed and underestimating local resistance, they fell into an ambush laid by Moha ou Hammou's men. The column was encircled, deprived of supplies, and suffered heavy losses. It was a significant defeat for France in the Middle Atlas, prelude to growing instability that would culminate in the Rif War the following year.

Since the establishment of the French protectorate in Morocco in 1912, many Atlas tribes had refused colonial domination. The Zayans, in particular, conducted constant resistance in the mountains of the Middle Atlas. Despite precarious pacification agreements, tensions mounted in early 1921. A French column was sent in reprisal for attacks on allied villages. Laverdure decided to strike hard to subdue the insurgents but gravely underestimated their preparation and armament.

French troops advanced in close formation across difficult mountain terrain, without air cover. The Berbers, well positioned on the heights, launched a coordinated attack on the column's flanks, using their knowledge of the terrain to isolate the vanguard. French attempts to withdraw were impeded by loss of ammunition and constant harassment. Artillery could not be deployed effectively. After several hours of encirclement, the position was overwhelmed.

This defeat shook French pacification strategy in central Morocco. The death of Colonel Laverdure shocked the colonial general staff. It pushed France considerably to reinforce its military dispositions in the region and to reconsider its tactics, notably by introducing aerial reconnaissance means. Politically, the failure fuelled anti-colonial propaganda in Morocco and metropolitan France. Above all, it marked a turning point: the Berbers gained confidence, heralding the major uprisings to come in the Rif.