Morocco this week received three Israeli reconnaissance drones as part of $48 million arms deal, French website Intelligence Online reported.

The three Heron aircrafts arrived on 26 January, reports have said, it is unclear what the military deal signed between the two countries also includes.

The drones will be deployed to counter extremist groups and fight rebel movements in the Western Sahara, the reports added.

Morocco and Israel have a long history of military and intelligence cooperation but have no official diplomatic ties.

Yesterday, Lior Ben Dor, the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs’ Arabic spokesperson, called for greater trade ties between the two states. “Welcome Moroccan people. I would love to tell you we invite investors, businessmen, researchers and Moroccan doctors to Israel.”

Morocco has long been accused of normalising relations with Israel. In October authorities arrested head of the Moroccan Observatory against Normalisation with Israel, Ahmed Wehman, after he organised a protest against improving ties with the occupation state.

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