Migrants, rescue ships face threats, harassment at sea: aid group

[Rescue Vessels Targeted by Libyan Actors amid Escalating Harassment in the Central Mediterranean]

Updated 14 min 52 sec ago

August 24, 2026 05:01

Rescue Vessels Targeted by Libyan Actors amid Escalating Harassment in the Central Mediterranean

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• A leading aid group stated on Monday that migrants crossing the Mediterranean and rescue ships assisting them are facing heightened threats and harassment from Libyan-linked actors.

Updated 14 min 52 sec ago

AFP

August 24, 2026 05:01

An international aid organization announced on Monday that migrants traversing the Mediterranean Sea and the rescue vessels that assist them are encountering rising levels of danger and intimidation from Libyan entities.

Countless individuals have perished during crossings from Africa to Europe, and SOS Mediterranee leads a coordinated fleet of ships and aircraft monitoring these waters.

The organization noted that the central Mediterranean region has become increasingly hostile, a trend it attributed partly to the growing involvement of European authorities in cooperation with Libyan forces aimed at deterring migration.

During June and July alone, SOS Mediterranee reported seven incidents in which vessels linked to Libyan actors approached rescue ships at high speeds or trailed them for hours, resulting in chase sequences that entered international waters.

In addition, there has been a marked increase in unidentifiable speedboats associated with armed groups operating in Libya.

These vessels were documented conducting aggressive intercepts, such as deliberate ramming of boats adrift with distressed passengers and maneuvers that endangered lives,” SOS Mediterranee warned.

Last year, the group alleged that the Libyan Coast Guard attacked its Ocean Viking assistance ship in open international waters, firing more than one hundred rounds and endangering both its crew and eighty-seven rescued migrants.

Legal actions have been initiated in Italy, France and Germany concerning the incident, though European and national authorities so far have remained silent and the perpetrators remain unidentified.

SOS Mediterranee urged for a comprehensive, independent inquiry into the situation.

The United Nations Agency for Migration reported this month that fatalities in the central Mediterranean have risen sharply, while attempts by migrants to undertake hazardous crossings have declined due to stricter European policies.

According to the IOM, 821 persons died or went missing in the first four months of the calendar year—a 111 percent increase compared to the same period last year—and total arrivals fell 46 percent to 8,577.

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