When American and Israeli warplanes struck Iran on February 28, 2026, launching what Washington dubbed Operation Epic Fury, most NATO allies fell into line. Spain did not. In the days that followed, the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez barred American forces from using the Rota and Morón de la Frontera air bases in southern Spain. Defense Minister Margarita Robles declared that Spain had provided “no assistance of any kind, absolutely none” from either base in connection with the Iran strikes, while Sánchez called the operation an “unjustified, dangerous military intervention that is outside international law.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Wednesday that Spain will join Italy in sending a military warship to help the Global Sumud Flotilla, which is attempting to deliver aid to starving Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip and came under drone attack following threats from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

The Spanish prime minister on Wednesday described Israel as a "genocidal state" and said Spain "does not do business with such a country," marking his strongest language yet on the issue.

Spain's minister of social rights released a statement Monday calling on her country's coalition government to petition the International Criminal Court to open a war crimes investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing the ongoing aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip and the devastating blockade that has prevented the free flow of desperately needed humanitarian aid.