Soldiers Ambushed in Ceuta Amid Migrant Crisis Protests

Tensions in the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta escalated into violent clashes on Thursday, August 27, 2026, as protests over a month-long migration crisis turned deadly with an ambush on Spanish soldiers. The incident followed two nights of demonstrations by residents who say they feel abandoned by the central government.

In the early hours of Thursday, a military vehicle carrying four soldiers was attacked by a group of approximately 70 migrants in the Benzú area. According to a police spokesman, the soldiers were ambushed and forced to abandon their vehicle after being pelted with stones. They fled on foot while being chased and continued to be struck by projectiles. All four soldiers sustained injuries, including bruises and pain in their arms and backs. Police launched an operation and arrested 12 Moroccan nationals, while others fled toward the sea. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

The ambush occurred hours after a large protest on Wednesday, August 26, in which thousands of residents marched through Ceuta demanding faster deportations and criticizing Madrid's handling of the crisis. Demonstrators carried Spanish flags and chanted slogans like...