Morocco-Israel Defense Systems: Strategic Arms Deals Explained

While Spain's government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez maintains a sharply critical stance toward Israel and enforces a complete arms embargo, the kingdom across the strait has emerged as one of the Israeli defense industry's most significant strategic customers. According to reports in leading Spanish media outlets El Confidencial and La Razón, Morocco is purchasing advanced Israeli weapons systems, some of which are positioned toward southern Spain and the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, located just 14 kilometers from Moroccan territory.

Since the signing of the Abraham Accords and normalization in 2020, the Rabat-Jerusalem axis has operated at full capacity, reshaping the balance of power in North Africa. Major Israeli defense companies, led by Elbit Systems and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, have become primary suppliers to the Moroccan military across a wide range of advanced weapons platforms.

Spanish army performs military drills (Photo: Spanish army's official account)

Morocco's arsenal includes advanced PULS rocket launchers manufactured by Elbit, capable of precision strikes at ranges of dozens to hundreds of kilometers. Alongside these, Morocco has acquired ATMOS self-propelled howitzers in 155mm caliber, among the most advanced in the world, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering munitions, including joint local production of models such as the SpyX.

Morocco has also purchased critical air defense systems including Barak MX and Spyder, with advanced discussions underway regarding the integration of David's Sling. All these systems are capable of easily covering the Strait of Gibraltar and extensive areas of southern Spain, raising significant concern among Madrid's security establishment and forcing Spain to deploy counter-drone defense systems in the country's south.

Political tensions between Spain and Morocco reached new heights in late July 2026 following the breach of thousands of migrants into the Ceuta enclave. In a desperate move, Prime Minister Sánchez publicly accused information networks linked to Israel and Russia of inciting the unrest, a claim Israel rejected as "a blatant lie."

Moroccan forces (Photo: Royal Moroccan Armed Forces)

A leaked internal police report revealed an embarrassing truth: either negligence or active cooperation by Moroccan authorities themselves. According to reports on the document, Moroccan security forces refused to intervene near the Tarajal crossing, made no attempt to disperse the crowd, and were even documented directing migrants toward Spanish territory.

Reports of possible involvement and denials by Rabat authorities led to sharp political tensions in Madrid and unprecedented waves of protest. On September 2, 2026, during the official Ceuta Day, tens of thousands took to the streets of the enclave and in over 200 cities across Spain. In Madrid, serious clashes were recorded at the conclusion of a demonstration involving approximately 50,000 participants.

While Sánchez defends Rabat and faces harsh domestic criticism for his perceived political weakness, Spain remains left behind, cut off from Israeli technology, watching helplessly as Morocco transforms into a protected regional power. The security gap between the two nations continues to widen, with Morocco equipping itself with the best of Israeli technology while Spain boycotts Israel and grapples with a severe migration crisis.