The maritime operation IRINI said it had intercepted and searched about 70 commercial vessels transiting the area of operations in the past 48 hours.

The operation added, in a statement on its official website, that it had redeployed its military units off the Libyan coast, on the main sea routes leading to Tripoli and the eastern region.

The operation clarified that it had allowed all ships to cross because there was nothing violating the arms embargo imposed on Libya.

The operation also stated that the aim is to reaffirm the presence of the operation in the region to deter violations of the United Nations arms embargo and other forms of illegal acts such as smuggling, in addition to reassuring the maritime community of IRINI's unwavering commitment to providing safety and security in the central Mediterranean, according to its statement.

News