Spain Deploys Troops as Migrant Surge Hits Ceuta, 18 Dead

On July 31, 2026, Spain deployed troops to Ceuta, its North African enclave, as thousands of migrants attempted to cross from Morocco, with at least 18 people reported dead. Police reported that around 40,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, while Moroccan authorities said they blocked thousands of others from reaching the border. The surge has triggered a fresh border crisis, prompting Spain to reinforce the frontier. The exact circumstances of the deaths have not been detailed in the headlines.