A rally in support of the Spanish military in Ceuta has been called for September 16

The situation facing members of the military units based in the Spanish city of Ceuta is very difficult.

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Since the Moroccan-led migrant incursion launched on July 30, Spanish soldiers in Ceuta have faced an already complex mission—under orders to "engage in dialogue" and "not use force," poorly armed, and subject to ambushes by illegal migrants who have settled in various parts of the city. Compounding this is the fact that the government still has not granted them the status of law enforcement agents, leaving them without the legal backing needed to, for instance, carry out preventive detentions of suspects.

In light of this situation, the Spanish Troops and Sailors Association (ATME) has called for a rally in Ceuta on Wednesday, September 16. It will take place at 8:00 PM in the Plaza de los Reyes and is open to the general public, including both civilians and members of the Armed Forces. Speaking to El Faro de Ceuta, the association noted that this mobilization is entirely legal, as current legislation permits rallies and demonstrations by military personnel when they are held for exclusively professional reasons.

The aforementioned association is calling for soldiers patrolling Ceuta to be recognized as agents of authority and for the military profession to be classified as a high-risk occupation —a demand opposition parties have been making for years and one the Ministry of Defense announced in May would be implemented, though it has yet to materialize. ATME also denounces the cancellation of military personnel's leave without proper explanation. This will mark the first time a gathering of military personnel has taken place in that Spanish city.

Naturally, Defense and Aviation supports this rally. Society must support our Armed Forces more than ever; their mission to defend our territorial integrity is being called into question by the conditions our soldiers are facing in Ceuta amidst this migratory invasion.

In addition to the aforementioned gathering, ATME has also organized a talk on the situation of our military personnel following recent events in Ceuta. It will also take place on September 16 at 4:00 PM at the Adolfo Suárez Library in Ceuta, located at Calle Alcalde Manuel Olivencia, s/n.

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Photo: Comandancia General de Ceuta. Celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception—Patroness of Spain and of the Spanish Army's Infantry Branch—conducted by the Ceuta *Regulares* Group No. 54 and the "Duque de Alba" 2nd Tercio of the Spanish Legion at the González-Tablas Barracks in Ceuta, in December 2025.