EU Operation Sophia Vessels Start Intercepting Arms Smugglers in Libya

The EU Operation Sophia vessels started to intercept ships in the international waters attempting to import weaponry to Libya in order to enforce UN arms embargo.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The European Union’s Operation Sophia (EUNAVFOR Med Sophia) vessels started to intercept ships in the international waters attempting to import weaponry to Libya in order to enforce UN arms embargo, an EU diplomatic source told RIA Novosti on Friday.

"The ships involved in EUNAVFOR Med Sophia started operations under the framework of the UN Security Council Resolution 2292," the source said, adding that smugglers would be towed to the French port of Marseilles.

The UN Security Council imposed arms embargo on Libya in February 2011, after the country became politically unstable. It requires all UN member states to prevent the sale or supply of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment and spare parts, to the country.

Operation Sophia was launched by the European Union in July 2015, and extended on September 6, in a bid to stem the flow of migrants and refugees traveling from the Middle East and North Africa, particularly from Libya, to Italy.