Spanish Police Launch Operation to Clear Migrants From Ceuta Beaches

Spanish riot police and military personnel began an operation on Friday to move thousands of migrants from beaches in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. Authorities estimate around 10,000 migrants remain in the territory after more than 72,000 people crossed from Morocco during an unprecedented border rush in late July.

The operation began early Friday morning, with migrants being escorted from beaches to temporary accommodation at the port. Tensions emerged as people competed for limited shelter spaces, and Reuters footage showed police firing rubber bullets into the air and using batons before the situation calmed and the relocation continued. A new temporary facility has space for around 1,700 adult men, while minors are being housed separately.

Humanitarian organisations say thousands of migrants remain without adequate shelter and are sleeping on beaches and pavements. One NGO estimated that around 4,000 people were still outdoors in Ceuta. NGO leaders also said authorities had been slow to provide sufficient accommodation under European migration rules, while officials may expect many migrants to return voluntarily to Morocco.

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