Mehdi Hijaouy Unveils Key Insights into the Pegasus Operation
Mehdi Hijaouy, the former second-in-command of Moroccan intelligence, has begun to share crucial information about the infamous Pegasus spyware operation, which compromised the mobile devices of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and several of his ministers. In a revealing statement made to the French weekly, Le Canard Enchaîné, Hijaouy has implicated high-ranking officials within the Moroccan intelligence community for their roles in the mass assault on Ceuta that occurred on July 31. He specifically named Abdellatif Hammouchi, the head of internal espionage, and Fouad Ali El Himma, a close advisor to King Mohamed VI, whom Hijaouy served under from 2017 to 2022 before fleeing Morocco. This disclosure sheds light on the alleged internal power struggles within Morocco’s intelligence apparatus, suggesting that rivalries may have fueled the events leading to the incursion.
Exposing the Espionage Tactics
Hijaouy is poised to reveal detailed information about how the Pegasus operation was executed, including specifics on who was involved and the contents of the 2.6 gigabytes of data extracted from Sánchez's phone. This information aligns with previous reports indicating that Hijaouy is currently not in Spain but is instead seeking refuge abroad to evade the ongoing persecution he has faced from Moroccan intelligence services over the past two years. His statements not only highlight the severity of the situation but also illustrate the intricate web of espionage tactics employed by Moroccan authorities against both domestic and foreign targets. As the implications of his revelations unfold, they raise critical questions about the extent of surveillance practices in international relations and the potential repercussions for those involved.
As reported by abc.es.
