Spain deploys military to Ceuta after thousands of people breach Morocco's border, at least nine die
Spain will deploy its military to restore order at its border with Morocco in Ceuta after thousands of migrants streamed into the tiny Spanish territory
Spain will deploy its military to restore order at its border with Morocco in Ceuta after thousands of migrants streamed into the tiny Spanish territory, with at least nine dying in the attempt. The announcement came after local authorities in Ceuta had asked the central government in Madrid for reinforcements to manage a border crisis that boiled over Thursday (July 30, 2026) with large crowds of people breaching the border fence. Spain's government said it would send the Armed Forces to help the Civil Guard “maintain security in the city of Ceuta”. It also announced that Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez would join Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska in a visit to Ceuta on Friday (July 31, 2026). “The situation is absolute chaos,” Rachid Sbihi, head of the association that represents Spain's Civil Guard officers who police the border in Ceuta, told The Associated Press. “It's not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing,” he said, adding that the border had “totally collapsed”. Achraf Maimouni, a member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights in northern Morocco, described the situation as “exceptional”. “The Tarajal border was opened under unusual circumstances this morning and people crossed," he said. Video footage showed crowds of people, mainly Moroccans, walking around the breakwaters at Tarajal beach onto local roads. While most appeared to be young men, there were also families with women and small children. “Viva Espana!” some shouted to a freelance photographer working for the AP.
It was not immediately clear what prompted so many migrants to cross to Ceuta. Spain's government delegation in Ceuta said at least nine people died Thursday (July 30, 2026) during the chaos. It did not provide details on the circumstances of the deaths but bodies could be seen floating in the water. Dozens have died this year trying to reach Ceuta, according to local authorities. Arrivals increasing, but reasons unclear The escalation at the frontier between Spain and Morocco comes after a surge in migrants attempting to reach the small exclave, mainly by swimming, on Wednesday (July 29, 2026). Moroccan authorities have not publicly commented on the crossings, and Morocco's Interior Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Spain's Interior Ministry said the Moroccan government was “closely cooperating” with Spain to handle the situation and that Moroccan police are stopping “numerous people” who are trying to cross the border. Both countries agreed to work together “for the return, as soon as possible, of all the people who entered Ceuta illegally.” The Ministry earlier said it would guarantee the safety of citizens and the integrity of the nation's border but that the Spanish government could not declare a national emergency — as local authorities had asked — over migration concerns. The chaos had ripple effects in Italy, another key destination for migrants. Premier Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Italy's open-border Schengen agreement with Spain “to defend our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens," though Italy doesn't share a border with Spain.
The BriefWire