Editing Melilla (section)

=== Defence and Civil Guard ===
The defence of the enclave is the responsibility of the [[Spanish Armed Forces]]' General Command of Melilla.<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/en/unidades/Melilla/comgemel/Organizacion/index.html | title=Comandancia General de Melilla |website=Ministerio de Defensa}}</ref> The [[Spanish Army]]'s combat components of the command include:

* [[Regulares|52nd ''Regulares'' Infantry Regiment]];
* [[Tercio "Gran Capitán" No. 1 of the Legion|1st Tercio ''Gran Capitán'' Regiment]] of the [[Spanish Legion]];
* 10th 'Alcántara' Cavalry Regiment<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/en/unidades/Melilla/rcac10/ | title=REGIMIENTO DE CABALLERIA "ALCÁNTARA"10 |website=Ministerio de Defensa}}</ref> equipped with [[Leopard 2|Leopard 2 main battle tanks]] and [[ASCOD|Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles]];<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/unidades/Melilla/rcac10/Noticias/2021/03_ejercicio_de_tiro.html | title=Ejercicio de tiro del vehículo VCIC Pizarro - Ejército de tierra }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/unidades/Melilla/rcac10/Organizacion/index.html | title=Contenido - Ejército de tierra }}</ref>
* 32nd Mixed Artillery Regiment with ''Grupo de Artillería de Campaña I/32'' equipped with [[Santa Bárbara Sistemas 155/52|155/52mm towed howitzers]] and ''Grupo de Artillería Antiaérea II/32'' equipped with [[Oerlikon GDF|35/90 SKYDOR/35/90 GDF-007 anti-aircraft guns]];<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/en/unidades/Melilla/ramix32/Historial/index.html | title=Regimiento Mixto de Artillería 32 |website=Ministerio de Defensa }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/en/unidades/Melilla/ramix32/Noticias/2022/10_El_GAAA_II32_realiza_ejercicios_de_colaboracion_aerea_y_tiro_AAA_en_el_CMT_de_Rostrogordo.html | title=El GAAA II/32 realiza ejercicios de colaboración aérea y tiro AAA en el CMT de Rostrogordo. - Spanish army }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://uklandpower.com/2020/12/08/learning-from-how-our-allies-armies-are-organized/ | title=Learning from how our Allies' armies are organized | date=8 December 2020 }}</ref> and,
* 8th Engineer Regiment

The command also includes its headquarters battalion as well as logistics elements.<ref name="auto"/>

In addition to the defence of Melilla, the garrison is also responsible for [[Plazas de soberanía|the defence of islands and rock formations claimed by Spain]] off the coast of Morocco. Units of the garrison are deployed to these rock formations to secure them against Moroccan incursions and did so notably during the [[Perejil Island crisis]] in 2002.<ref name="auto"/> To enhance coastal security, the [[Spanish Navy]] based a dedicated patrol boat (''Isla Pinto'') in Melilla from mid-2023.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Entregado a la Armada española el patrullero "Isla Pinto" (P-84) |url=https://www.defensa.com/defensa-naval/entregado-armada-espanola-patrullero-isla-pinto-p-84|website=infodefensa.com |date=28 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=La Armada recibe el patrullero 'Isla Pinto' para vigilar las aguas de Melilla |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/nacional/20230621/9058347/armada-recibe-patrullero-isla-pinto-vigilar-aguas-melilla.html |website=Lavanguardia |date=21 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=La Armada incrementará su presencia en Melilla con un patrullero de vigilancia costera|url=https://www.infodefensa.com/texto-diario/mostrar/4192258/armada-incrementara-presencia-melilla-patrullero-vigilancia-costera |website=infodefensa.com |date=27 February 2023}}</ref> Melilla itself is about {{convert|350|km}} distant from the main Spanish naval base at [[Naval Station Rota|Rota]] on the Spanish mainland while the [[Spanish Air Force]]'s [[Morón Air Base]] is within {{convert|300|km}} proximity.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

The [[Civil Guard (Spain)|Civil Guard]] is responsible for border security and protects both the territory's [[Melilla border fence|fortified land border]] against frequent, and sometimes significant, migrant incursions.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/38932/melilla-thousands-of-migrants-attempt-to-scale-fence-into-spanish-enclave | title=Melilla: Thousands of migrants attempt to scale fence into Spanish enclave | date=3 March 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Guerraoui|first=Saad|date=2021-06-12|title=Spanish report warns of Morocco's 'hybrid strategies' to annex Ceuta, Melilla &#124; Saad Guerraoui|url=https://middle-east-online.com/en/spanish-report-warns-morocco%25E2%2580%2599s-%25E2%2580%2598hybrid-strategies%25E2%2580%2599-annex-ceuta-melilla|access-date=2023-01-14|website=MEO|language=en}}</ref>