AssetID: 56084807
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Moroccan Warships Entered Spanish Waters During Ceuta Migration Crisis
Caption: Moroccan Warships Entered Spanish Waters During Ceuta Migration Crisis. Moroccan warships repeatedly entered Spanish territorial waters off Ceuta during the mass arrival of migrants from Morocco in late July and early August 2026, according to an investigation by Spanish newspaper El País. At least one frigate and several patrol boats belonging to the Royal Moroccan Navy reportedly entered the waters, in what sources described as a deliberate violation of Spanish sovereignty. The naval incursions coincided with the arrival of more than 70,000 migrants through the El Tarajal border crossing on July 30 and 31, although no evidence has been publicly confirmed the link. The Spanish Navy responded by deploying the maritime action vessel Rayo, followed by the frigates Santa María and Navarra, to reinforce surveillance and deter further incursions. During one encounter, Spanish and Moroccan patrol boats reportedly manoeuvred so close to one another that a collision was a concern. The incursions continued into early August, prompting high-level diplomatic intervention by Spain’s Defence Ministry to demand that Rabat stop the unauthorised movements. There are longstanding tensions over maritime sovereignty, as Spain claims territorial waters extending 12 nautical miles from Ceuta, while Morocco does not recognise Spanish sovereignty. The revelations add a new dimension to the migration crisis and come ahead of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia’s planned visit to Ceuta, the first by a Spanish monarch in nearly two decades. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Moroccan,warships,encounters,migration crisis,Spanish,frigates,diplomatic,conflict,territorial waters,Ministry of Defence,Rabat,Madrid,investigation,El País
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