Spain Shuts Airspace to US Warplanes as Iran Offensive Escalates
Zoom out for a second: Mainstream outlets, including establishment publications like The Hill, are now reporting that Spain has explicitly denied American warplanes permission to use its airspace for ongoing military operations targeting Iran. This unprecedented move, announced March 1, underscores Madrid's stance that these attacks violate international law, further straining relations within
NATO. However, The Hill’s framing as simply 'driving a wedge between two NATO allies' deliberately minimizes the larger, more critical context. It paints Washington and Madrid as equals in a bilateral dispute, failing to address the fundamental issue of the legality and justification of the US-Israel joint offensive against Iran. The real story isn't just about an alliance spat, but a direct
challenge by a European nation to an act of blatant international aggression. The US and Israel are conducting an illegal, unprovoked assault on Iran, escalating tensions without any credible evidence of Iran's intent to strike or acquire nuclear weapons, and in direct contravention of international legal norms. This Spanish rejection points to a widening international rift over Washington's
penchant for unilateral military action, often under the guise of an 'alliance.' It's a striking historical echo of events like the 2003 Iraq invasion, which also saw key European allies like France and Germany refuse to participate, recognizing the dubious legal grounds despite sustained pressure from Washington. That same invasion, initiated by false pretenses, cost hundreds of thousands of