15PM: The Moroccan command is now worried. Looks like the Spaniards are decided to take the island back and are moving forces into North Africa. It is decided that more troops will be deployed around Ceuta and Melilla to show them that the Moroccan position is strong.
19PM: Spanish intelligence learns from the Moroccan troop movements.
20PM: PM Aznar is informed about the Moroccan deployment. After consulting with his Chief of Staff and informing King Juan Carlos, he decides to deploy more forces in Ceuta and Melilla.
11PM: The Tercio Juan de Austria of the Legion based off Almeria is mobilized.
In the last two days, the attitude in Spain has slowly changed to a more worried climate. Military recruiters have detected an unusual rise on the recruitment petitions [this happened in OTL], and the calls to radio stations asking for a military expulsion of Moroccan occupiers of Perejil now come not only from right-wing wackjobs, but from more moderate people.
A secret CIA report informs that the odds of a war over the Straits of Gibraltar are very unlikely.
July, 15th 2002:
9AM: To mark the ending of the Congressional year, the traditional Debate on the State of the Nation is held at Madrid. The crisis with Morocco holds an important place on the debate.
11AM: the newest ship in the Spanish arsenal, the AEGIS frigate Álvaro de Bazán is mobilized to the conflict zone.
12AM: the Spanish carrier Príncipe de Asturias and her battlegroup are mobilized at her Rota Naval Base near Cadiz. [In OTL only the frigate was mobilized. The addition of the Carrier to the task fleet shows how the tension is bigger than in OTL]
15PM: NATO condemns the Moroccan action and urge for a diplomatic solution, but remind Spain that Spanish north African holdings are not under the NATO umbrella and that Spain will have to go on her own if she attacks first.
17PM: Spanish soldiers arrive to the Spanish outposts in Alhucemas and the Chafarinas islands to reinforce the garrisons.
21PM: 30 Moroccan royal marines arrive to Perejil Island and relief the gendarmes. They proceed to build defensive positions [In OTL they arrived one day later, were only 12 and didn't take any defensive precaution. Actually, they were all sleeping when the Spanish commandos assaulted the island]
July 16th, 2002:
11AM: Spain withdraws its ambassador at Rabat. Morocco will do the same shortly after.
12PM: More Legion troops arrive to Ceuta and Melilla.
13 PM: the Principe de Asturias battlegroup take positions in international waters at the Gulf of Cadiz.
15PM: The Debate on the Nation State ends with the tacit support of every political group, except Catalonian radical nationalists, to the governments' stance on the Moroccan crisis.
16 PM: The Moroccan fleet based at Tangiers, Al-Hoceima and Casablanca is mobilized.
During the entire day, the Spanish PM and the Staff chiefs have been debating about how to end the crisis. When news of the Moroccan deployment arrive, it becomes clear that only a military solution is feasible.
20PM: Spanish submarines leave the Cartagena naval base towards the conflict zone.
21PM: PM Aznar talks to US President Bush about the possibility of a Spanish assault on Perejil Island. Bush declares the US' neutrality in the conflict [Yep, this happened in OTL]
2130 PM: Frigates Numancia and Navarra take positions in the Strait, along with a small support fleet
22PM: preparations start for the assault on Perejil Island. Despite the Moroccan defensive setup, the operation is expected to be bloodless. PM Aznar reports to the king, and promises that he takes all responsibility: he will resign from his charge if something goes wrond.
2330 PM: Soldiers of the MOES (Mando de Operaciones Especiales) leave their base at Rabassa, near Alicante. Their mission is to assault and retake Perejil Island with as little violence as possible. They will be supported by F-18 and Mirage F-1 planes, several Sikorsky helicopters, frigates and submarines.
The next day, July 17th, 2002, a full scale war will erupt in the Straits of Gibraltar.
Spanish North Africa before July 2002:
Day 1: July 17th, 2002
In an ironical twist of fate, this war will start in exactly the same place and date than the last war Spain suffered 66 years before.
2AM: the Spanish airspace is closed; every plane on it asked to land as soon as possible. The civilian airports of Cádiz, Málaga , Almería, Ceuta and Melilla are closed too. [This happened in OTL, although the closure would only last a few hours]
3-5 AM: Spanish submarines and warships take positions near Perejil . The straits of Gibraltar are closed to civilian traffic; ships crossing it are ordered to move to the nearest available port.
5.30 AM: 5 transport helicopters escorted by attack helicopters and warplanes, with the the assault team on board, take off from Ceuta and head for Perejil while the sun rises.
