Why did Spain withdraw forces from western Morocco in 1924?

In September 1924, the Spanish government, led by the dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera, ordered the withdrawal of thousands of troops from isolated positions in the western part of the protectorate to a more defensible line south of Tetuán.1

This decision was driven by several key factors:

• War Weariness and Cost: The conflict had become increasingly unpopular among the Spanish public, and the financial burden of the war was straining the national treasury beyond its capacity.12
• Strategic Consolidation: The military sought to abandon vulnerable, isolated outposts in favor of a fortified line, though the retreat itself resulted in at least 2,000 Spanish casualties.1
• Diplomatic Efforts: Primo de Rivera attempted to pursue peace negotiations with Abd el-Krim alongside the withdrawal, though these efforts ultimately failed as Abd el-Krim demanded full sovereignty for the Republic of the Rif.31

The retreat created a power vacuum that Abd el-Krim’s forces quickly filled, allowing him to control approximately three-quarters of the Spanish protectorate by early 1925.31