Battle of Melilla

Significance

The Battle of Melilla in February 1860 represented a significant setback for Spanish forces during the Hispano-Moroccan War. A garrison of approximately 1,200 Spanish troops suffered around 200 casualties against a Riffian force estimated at 15,000, with the engagement described as a fiasco for the Spanish side. The defeat underscored the difficulty Spain faced in defending its enclave at Melilla against determined Riffian fighters operating on familiar ground outside the city walls.

Forces & casualties