Spain Refuses US Use of Bases for Iran Strikes

Spain's government announced on Sunday that it would not permit the United States to use its military bases for operations connected to recent strikes on Iran, which resulted in the death of the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The decision came amid widespread condemnation in Madrid of the U.S. and Israeli attacks, which began on Saturday and have escalated tensions across the Middle East.

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated during a television interview that the bases at Rota and Morón, located in southern Spain, operate under joint-use agreements but remain under Spanish sovereignty. "The bases will not be used for anything that falls outside the agreement with the United States or the United Nations Charter," Albares said. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the strikes as an unjustified military intervention that violates international law, warning that such actions contribute to a more unstable global order. Defense Minister Margarita Robles added that the facilities could only support humanitarian efforts if needed in the future.

Flight tracking data indicated that at least 15 U.S. aircraft, including aerial refueling tankers such as KC-135...