Fifteen U.S. military aircraft have departed Spanish bases following Madrid’s decision to prohibit the use of its territory for strikes on Iran, a move that places Spain at odds with key Western allies amid escalating Middle East tensions.
Data from flight tracking service FlightRadar24 showed that aircraft began leaving the Rota and Moron military installations in southern Spain after the United States and Israel carried out coordinated weekend attacks on Iranian targets.
At least seven of the planes were recorded landing at Ramstein Air Base, a major U.S. military hub in Germany according to reports.
Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, made clear that the jointly operated facilities—though shared with Washington—remain under Spanish sovereignty and would not support offensive military operations against Iran. Madrid has openly criticized the strikes.
“Spanish bases are not being used for this operation, and they will not be used for anything not included in the agreement with the United States or for anything that is not in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,” Albares said, speaking to Spanish broadcaster Telecinco.
The aircraft involved included aerial refueling tankers, primarily the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, which had been permanently stationed in Spain, according to Defense Minister Margarita Robles.
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Flight data indicated that nine tankers departed from Moron air base on Sunday en route to Germany. Two additional aircraft left the Rota naval air facility heading toward southern France, while four more departures from Rota had no visible route tracking.
Spain’s position contrasts with that of the United Kingdom. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially declined to permit the use of UK bases for the operation but later authorized access on Sunday for what he described as “collective self-defence.”
The divergence highlights Spain’s increasingly distinct posture within NATO and the European Union regarding the U.S.-Israel military action. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has strongly condemned the strikes, a stance that analysts say could strain diplomatic relations between Madrid and Washington at a delicate geopolitical moment.
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