The Spanish government has ordered the closure of its airspace to all aircraft related to the military actions of the US and Israel against Iran, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Carlos Cuerpo announced in an interview, quoted by DPA, BTA reported.
According to him, the measure is part of Madrid's decision not to participate in the war and not to provide support, which, according to the Spanish authorities, was started unilaterally and violates international law.
The ban covers not only takeoffs from Spanish territory, but also overflights of military aircraft taking off from bases in the UK and France, the newspaper "Pais" reported and the Europa Press agency, citing the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Madrid is among the harshest critics in Europe of the US and Israeli military operation in Iran. Shortly after the conflict began, Sanchez banned the US from using the Rota and Moron military bases for operations against Iran.
The two bases, located in the southern autonomous region of Andalusia, have been used jointly by Spain and the US for decades.
Earlier today, Madrid summoned the Israeli chargé d'affaires in Spain to express an official protest against the restriction of access to the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Álvarez announced, quoted by the EFE agency, BTA reported.
Álvarez criticized the actions of the Israeli police, which on March 29 did not allow the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to celebrate the Catholic Palm Sunday mass in the temple.
"We summoned the representative of Israel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to state that this should not be repeated and that the Catholic mass should be celebrated normally, as it always has been", said Álvarez.
He described the case as "very worrying and unjustified", emphasizing that the restrictions have also affected other faiths. "Other religions, such as Islam, also have limited access to holy sites," he added.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the incident as an "unjustified attack on religious freedom." In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Sanchez of repeatedly "inciting hatred against Israel." Albarez also warned of a widening conflict in the Middle East, expressing concerns that the region could be heading towards a "perpetual war scenario" that could lead to new refugee flows to Europe.