US aircraft leave Spanish bases after Madrid bars use for Iran attacks
Mar 2nd 2026
Fifteen US planes, mostly refuelling tankers, left Spain’s Rota and Moron bases after Madrid said its facilities cannot be used for attacks on Iran, FlightRadar24 data and Spanish officials show.
- Fifteen US aircraft departed the Rota and Moron bases after weekend strikes on Iran, according to FlightRadar24 tracking data.
- Most of the planes were Boeing KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers that Defence Minister Margarita Robles says are permanently stationed in Spain.
- At least seven of the aircraft landed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
- FlightRadar24 showed nine tankers left Moron for Germany, two flights left Rota for southern France, and four Rota flights had no public routes.
- Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Spanish bases will not be used for attacks on Iran and must operate under Spanish sovereignty and the United Nations Charter.
- Spain has condemned the US-Israeli actions in Iran, and Britain initially refused base use before later authorising it for collective self-defence.