Spain closed its airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran, Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced on Monday.

The step goes further than Madrid’s previous decision to deny US forces the use of its joint military bases.

According to Spanish media reports, US military planes will have to bypass Spain on their way to targets in the  Middle East, barring emergencies.”

“This decision is part of the stance already taken by the Spanish government not to participate in or contribute to a war that was initiated unilaterally and against international law,” Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said in an interview with Cadena Ser radio.

Spain’s left-wing government is headed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who announced in a televised address in September that Spain can’t stop Israel from operating in Gaza because it “doesn’t have nuclear bombs.”

“Spain doesn’t have nuclear bombs, nor aircraft carriers, nor a large amount of oil reserves, so we alone can’t stop Israel,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t stop trying because there are causes worth fighting for even if it’s not in our sole power to win them.”

Apart from arousing Israel’s ire, Sanchez’s comments were slammed by many Spanish politicians, with one right-wing politician scornfully stating, “Sanchez wants nuclear weapons to defend Hamas rather than Spain.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar slammed the remarks, stating that Sanchez leads a “hostile anti-Israeli line, wild rhetoric dripping with hatred,” and announced sanctions on antisemitic members of his government.

In response to Sa’ar’s comments, Spain pulled its ambassador from Tel Aviv and the next day announced a ban on National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)