Moroccan forces intercept hundreds of migrants near Ceuta on August 15

Moroccan security forces intercepted hundreds of migrants near the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Saturday, August 15, 2026, preventing a new mass crossing attempt just weeks after a deadly crisis that overwhelmed the small territory. Authorities detained at least 111 people, including 109 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and two Moroccan citizens, near the border town of Fnideq, according to Morocco's Interior Ministry. Some reports from local media cited a significantly higher arrest total of 294 individuals, including 46 Moroccans. The operation came in response to anonymous social media posts circulated over the previous week, which falsely claimed the border would open on August 15, a public holiday in Spain.

Witnesses and journalists observed Moroccan police in riot gear using tear gas to disperse groups gathered on hills approximately three kilometers from Ceuta's boundary. Helicopters and surveillance drones supported the ground operation. Moroccan authorities said they had detected the online disinformation campaign and warned that organizers and participants faced prosecution. In the days leading up to the attempted crossing, security forces had preemptively stopped...