Moroccan authorities say they arrested a dozen people this month allegedly planning attacks on behalf of the Islamic State in the Sahel, a region south of the Sahara Desert. The discovery of the terrorist cell and what authorities called an “imminent dangerous terrorist plot” reflect the expanding ambitions of extremist groups in the region.

Morocco's counterterrorism agency said on Monday it had foiled attacks planned by the so-called Islamic State group in the Sahel region, south of the Sahara Desert. Authorities released images and videos showing officers raiding cells across Morocco,