Spanish Army Tanks in Melilla Spark Concern Across Moroccan Border

"Tanks are roaming the occupied [Melilla] city," the Moroccan press reported without knowing the reason for this maneuver. In reality, the presence of these tanks in the autonomous city was due to an exercise to test the loading capacity of the army’s new logistics transport ship, Ysabel, Vozpopuli believes, specifying that these vehicles were moved from the base of the ’Alcántara 10’ cavalry unit in Melilla to the port of the city.

This navy ship was commissioned in June by the Spanish navy. It comes "to strengthen the logistical transport capabilities by sea of the armies, both on national territory and in the area of operations," explains the Spanish Ministry of Defense. The Ysabel ship has a loading capacity of more than a thousand military vehicles and combat tanks.

To read: Spanish Naval Presence Near Melilla Heightens Tensions with Morocco

"These types of ships are essential for the logistical support of military units located in Ceuta and Melilla, at the level of the rocks and islands of Spanish sovereignty in North Africa, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, and detachments in foreign missions in Lebanon and Turkey," details the Ministry of Defense.

Relations between Spain and Morocco remain tense. The Moroccan ambassador to Madrid, Karima Benyaich, recalled to Rabat in May, has still not returned to her post. For the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, the resumption of relations is progressing, but will take as long as necessary.