Spain blocks American ships carrying weapons for Israel

American ships loaded with arms for Israel were blocked from transiting through the Rota (Cádiz) and Morón de la Frontera (Seville) bases, the Spanish El Pais newspaper reported Monday. “Rota and Moron are not a backdoor,” a source was quoted by the paper as saying. "Rota and Morón are bases under Spanish sovereignty, under the command of a Spanish military officer, and everything that happens there must be authorized by the Spanish authorities," a source was quoted by the paper as saying.

The Spanish government, which has called Israel’s military actions a genocide, says it stopped exporting arms to Israel as of Oct.2, 2023, and has recognized a Palestinian state in May 2024. The move comes as Madrid continues to cancel arms contracts with Israeli companies.

The two American bases in southern Spain are officially shared by the two allies, but Washington often uses them as a hub for troops, weapons, fuel, and supplies bound further east. The bases were also used by 15 American KC-135 tanker aircraft during the war between Israel and Iran in June as the US flew its bombers towards Iranian targets ahead of Operation Midnight Hammer. (Ed note: This isn't 1588, and it's not their Spanish Armada. They had better not mess with the US Navy.)     (Read More)