Moroccan security forces moved to disperse hundreds of migrants gathered near the border with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Saturday, deploying tear gas as helicopters operated overhead during a major security response. The gathering developed around Fnideq, the Moroccan city immediately south of Ceuta, after messages circulated online calling for another coordinated attempt to enter Spanish territory on Aug. 15. Large numbers of Moroccan police had been positioned around approaches to the border in advance, with authorities attempting to prevent groups from reaching crossing points or the coastline.

The operation comes just over two weeks after an unprecedented surge overwhelmed the Ceuta frontier on July 30. Spain’s Interior Ministry says approximately 72,000 people entered Ceuta during that episode, with more than 70,000 subsequently leaving the autonomous city as Spanish and Moroccan authorities worked to restore control of the border. The scale of the crossing placed significant pressure on Ceuta, whose normal population is roughly comparable to the number of people who arrived during the surge, and prompted Spain to reinforce police and military resources around the enclave.

Security preparations intensified ahead of Saturday after calls for another crossing began circulating online. Authorities on both sides of the frontier increased patrols and surveillance, while Moroccan forces attempted to prevent prospective migrants from reaching Fnideq and surrounding areas in large groups. Unlike the July episode, the latest gathering did not develop into a mass breach of the border. No large-scale entry into Ceuta had been reported as Moroccan forces continued clearing groups from areas several kilometers from the frontier.

Ceuta is one of two Spanish territories on the North African coast and forms part of the European Union’s external border with Morocco, alongside Melilla farther east. The frontier has repeatedly become a focal point for irregular migration into Europe, prompting extensive cooperation between European and Moroccan authorities on border management and migration enforcement. Saturday’s response reflects efforts by both governments to prevent a repeat of July’s sudden mass crossing while Ceuta continues dealing with the humanitarian, security and political consequences of the earlier influx.