The EU’s naval mission, Operation IRINI, has reiterated its commitment to enforcing the UN-imposed arms embargo on Libya. The operation continues to monitor and inspect commercial ships travelling to and from Libya to ensure compliance with international resolutions.
In a statement, IRINI highlighted recent activities by the Greek naval ship HS LIMNOS, which has carried out distress call responses, friendly approaches, and inspections of commercial vessels.
According to the statement, these measures aim to combat the illegal flow of arms to Libya, gather intelligence on unlawful oil exports, and report human smuggling activities to the appropriate authorities.
IRINI clarified that its onboard inspections are conducted consensually, with the ship captain’s approval, to foster maritime awareness and cooperation. However, full boarding and cargo inspections are only carried out when credible evidence suggests a vessel may be transporting arms in violation of the embargo and only with the approval of the flag state.
Since its inception in 2020, Operation IRINI has conducted approximately 16,500 queries of commercial ships, carried out over 650 friendly ship visits, and boarded 30 vessels for document and cargo inspections.
