In a surprise move today, Spain recaptured the island of Perejil from the dozen Moroccan soldiers who, last week, had taken the island. This development comes as both countries yesterday were still vowing to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
Morocco on Wednesday seemed surprised by the Spanish military operation that dislodged its remaining six soldiers from an island that Morocco had invaded just last week. The crisis began on July 11 when a dozen Moroccan troops disembarked on the Mediterranean island of Perejil, building two tents and planting two poles bearing the Moroccan flag. The small, one kilometer-wide, island of Perejil is located just about 200 meters from the Moroccan coast inside Moroccan territorial waters. It is said to have belonged to Spain since 1668 but Morocco disputes this on historical grounds, arguing that the island was liberated from the Spanish protectorate in 1956 and adding that it was not the first time that Morocco conducted such military exercises on the island, which is customarily used by Moroccan farmers for farming and cattle-breeding activities.The European Union had condemned the Moroccan invasion of the island, calling it a serious violation of Spain's territorial intergrity.
Earlier this week both Spain and Morocco vowed to do everything they can to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The Foreign ministers of both countries had also affirmed their commitment to a negotiated outcome to what was now acknowledged by all as a serious territorial crisis.
Spain's military operation is an indication that the crisis is taking a more dramatic turn. The Moroccan government this morning issued a very vigourous protest and demanded the immediate and unconditioanl withdrawal of the Spanish forces from the Perejil island, which is known to Moroccans as "Leila". Morocco also called on the UN's Security Council to demand the immediate cessation of what it called the Spanish aggression.
Morocco also filed protests with the Arab League, the Islamic Conference Organization (ICO) and various friendly nations.
The Spanish government, in a statement, declared that it was forced to undertake the operation and dislodge the Moroccan contingent from the island to protect its territorial integrity and recover its property. The operation went very well, the statement said, as there were no lives lost and no injuries to the soldiers on both sides. The Spanish government captured the six Moroccan soldiers who had remained on the island and returned them to their government, according to official sources.
The Spanish operation took place early in the morning, around 6:00am. Special army units conducted the operation, backed by combat helicopters, navy ships and swimmers that had converged to the area in recent days, probably in preparation for the retaliatory move.
On the diplomatic front, Spain had recalled its ambassador to Morocco on Tuesday. The Spanish government however strove to reassure the international community that it was willing to maintain cordial relations with Morocco in spite of the crisis. The Moroccan political class on the other hand condemned the Spanish move, considering it a true declaration of war and advocating severance of all economic and diplomatic ties with a country that had betrayed the friendship that existed between the two nations.
Echoing the concerns of the international community, UN Secretary General Koffi Annan voiced his sadness and regreted "any unilateral action taken so far and hopes that both parties will adhere to their original undertaking to resolve the issue through peaceful means,” spokesperson Hua Jiang said in a statement at a press briefing today in New York. Annan stands ready to help both parties resolve the issue, the spokesperson added.
