Six Spanish F-18s on one side, two Moroccan F-16s on the other: tensions in the skies over Alboran
Two Moroccan F-16s flew at low altitude from Al Hoceïma while Spain deployed six F-18s, a frigate and its air defense system on the other side of the Alboran Sea.
The two Royal Air Force fighter jets were spotted on Monday, September 21, in the skies over Al Hoceïma and near Cherif-Al-Idrissi Airport. Images show the aircraft flying at low altitude and using the runway at this civilian airport, located close to Melilla.
The F-16s reportedly performed “touch-and-go” maneuvers: the aircraft briefly touches down on the runway before immediately taking off again. The presence of Moroccan fighter jets at this airport, which sees little military traffic, remains unusual, notes The Objective.
On Bladi.net : Six F-18 ready to take off within fifteen minutes: Spain monitors the skies in the face of Morocco
The timing gives these flights particular significance. On the same day, Spain launched Eagle Eye 26-03 from Malaga Air Base and over the waters of the Alboran Sea. The operation involved six F-18s from Wing 15, placed on alert so they could take off within less than fifteen minutes of detecting an unidentified aircraft.
The Méndez Núñez frigate, equipped with the AEGIS combat system and SPY-1D radar, also took part in the Spanish deployment. It was accompanied by an air defense unit deployed on the Andalusian coast and several radar stations tasked with monitoring the airspace.
Two F-16s in Al Hoceïma, six F-18s in Malaga
The Moroccan flights and the Spanish maneuvers therefore took place simultaneously on opposite sides of the Alboran Sea. Military sources cited by the Spanish outlet view them as an exchange of signals between the two countries, with this type of Moroccan activity regularly observed when Spain holds major exercises in the area.
Rabat has issued no statement on the mission assigned to the two F-16s. However, the aircraft were filmed as Spain concentrated its air, naval and ground forces in the region. Madrid officially described Eagle Eye as a scheduled “presence, surveillance and deterrence” operation, without mentioning Morocco.
The deployment also took place just days after the inspection of the Melilla garrison by the chief of the Spanish Army. Spanish authorities had already stepped up their attention around the city and the islets they control off the Moroccan coast.
On Bladi.net : Spain fears an “imminent” Moroccan action against its islets
Eagle Eye 26-03 ended on Friday, September 25. The Spanish Defense Staff announced that it had mobilized more than 1,800 military personnel. The six F-18s completed more than 25 sorties and logged more than 35 flight hours over Malaga and the Alboran Sea.
