Spain closes Melilla border crossing with Morocco after mass entry attempt

Spain late Thursday closed the Beni Enzar border crossing with Morocco in its North African enclave of Melilla following a mass entry attempt by irregular migrants, while thousands of entry attempts were reported in the country's other enclave, Ceuta, on the same day, according to public broadcaster RTVE.

The Beni Enzar border crossing between Spain and Morocco was closed as security forces worked to bring the situation under control, while Melilla President Juan Jose Imbroda told broadcaster Cadena COPE that "around 300, 400 at most" irregular entries into the autonomous city had taken place.

He said the entry attempts occurred both across the land border and by sea, stressing that the situation in Melilla "cannot be compared" with that in Spain's other North African enclave, Ceuta, which also saw large-scale irregular entry attempts from Morocco on Thursday.

Imbroda said authorities had "contained the situation quite well," adding that the Moroccan gendarmerie had cooperated.

[1/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[2/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[3/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[4/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[5/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[6/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

[7/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[8/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

[9/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[10/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

[11/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[12/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

[13/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

[14/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

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[1/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[2/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[3/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[4/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[5/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[6/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

[7/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[8/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

[9/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[10/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

[11/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Moroccan and Algerian migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea, while many were intercepted by Moroccan patrol boats. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service, the Spanish Red Cross, and the Civil Guard carried out rescue operations after the attempted crossings.

[12/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

[13/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

[14/14] CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Security forces take measures, monitor the area in the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa following an attempted sea crossing by migrants from Morocco on July 31, 2026. Spanish and Moroccan authorities carried out operations along the coast as migrants attempted to reach Ceuta by sea.

A spokesperson for the Government Delegation in Melilla confirmed the border closure, saying it would remain in place while security forces continued operations. It remains unclear when the crossing will reopen.

A large police deployment was reported in the area to prevent the entry of hundreds of Moroccan nationals, while gunfire and explosions were heard, according to RTVE.

The developments in Melilla came as thousands of irregular migrants attempted to reach Ceuta from Morocco.

The police source confirmed to RTVE on Friday that the number of migrant deaths amid massive arrivals rose to 19.

Local media previously reported that more than 1,500 migrants had reached Ceuta from Morocco over the past week, with many swimming across the border while others entered on foot. The exact number of arrivals has not yet been officially confirmed.

Early Friday, hundreds of people reportedly engaged in violent clashes at the border perimeters as they attempted to cross from Morocco into Ceuta and Melilla.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that his government was mobilizing all available resources.

The government also said the armed forces would be deployed to assist the Civil Guard in maintaining security across the city.