Morocco’s two military observation satellites passed over the Strait of Gibraltar multiple times during last week’s mass migrant surge into Ceuta, giving Rabat the capability to monitor developments around the Spanish enclave, according to Spanish news outlet The Objective.
Citing satellite tracking data it reviewed, the publication reported that Morocco’s Mohamed VI-A satellite flew over the area as the mass crossing began on July 30. The satellite reportedly passed over the Strait and reached the Moroccan coast at approximately 10:57 a.m., shortly before large groups gathered near Castillejos moved toward Ceuta by land and sea.
According to The Objective, Morocco’s Mohamed VI-A and Mohamed VI-B satellites made at least 11 passes over the Ceuta and Melilla area between July 26 and the end of the migration crisis.
The outlet said the satellites’ orbits allowed Morocco to obtain potentially two observations of the region each day, with one satellite passing at around 11 a.m. and the other at approximately 10 p.m.
The Mohamed VI satellites are equipped with high-resolution optical imaging systems capable of capturing images with a resolution of about 50 centimeters, allowing operators to identify vehicles and distinguish individuals and other objects on the ground.
According to Spanish military sources cited by The Objective, the capability could have enabled Moroccan authorities to monitor Spanish security deployments during the crisis, including the movements of the Civil Guard and the armed forces.
The report said the satellites are operated by Morocco’s Royal Center for Space Remote Sensing and the Royal Armed Forces from a military facility near Rabat-Salé Airport. Operators can reportedly task the satellites to image specific locations as they pass overhead, allowing analysts to compare images over time to detect changes such as troop movements, defensive positions or infrastructure activity.
Spain also operates an Earth-observation satellite, PAZ, which uses synthetic aperture radar technology and can collect images at night and through cloud cover.
However, The Objective reported that satellite tracking data showed PAZ made only one pass over the Strait of Gibraltar during the crisis, at around 6 a.m. on July 31. By that time, Spanish authorities estimated that roughly 49,000 people had attempted to enter Ceuta.
The report focuses on the satellites’ observation capabilities and does not provide evidence that Morocco used the imagery to direct or coordinate events during the migrant surge. Spanish or Moroccan authorities have not publicly commented on the report.
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