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Turkish ship en route to Libya boarded by German frigate

2020-11-23T19:23:16.692Z


A Turkish cargo ship was boarded and searched in the Mediterranean by German soldiers as part of a European mission to control the arms embargo against Libya, Turkish media reported Monday (November 23). According to the state press agency Anadolu, a German frigate deployed as part of the European operation Irini stopped Sunday evening, off the Peloponnese, this Turkish ship which was on its way t


A Turkish cargo ship was boarded and searched in the Mediterranean by German soldiers as part of a European mission to control the arms embargo against Libya, Turkish media reported Monday (November 23).

According to the state press agency Anadolu, a German frigate deployed as part of the European operation Irini stopped Sunday evening, off the Peloponnese, this Turkish ship which was on its way to the Libyan port of Misrata.

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Armed soldiers rappelled onto the ship from a helicopter, according to impressive images broadcast by the NTV news channel, before taking control of the control room.

The German military searched the building overnight, but found only cookies and paint, said Anadolu, who said the ship was carrying humanitarian supplies.

The Turkish ship resumed its journey Monday morning after the departure of the military, according to the agency.

The incident risks angering Ankara, who militarily supports the recognized government in Libya and says no one has the right to search Turkish ships without their permission.

Launched in April, Operation Irini aims to enforce the United Nations embargo on arms sent to Libya by the support of belligerents in this country at war.

Turkey considers this naval mission biased and accuses the Europeans of seeking through this mechanism to prevent deliveries of arms by sea intended for the government in Tripoli while ignoring those provided to the strongman of the East Khalifa Haftar by his allies by air and land.

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According to the EU, Irini has helped document the embargo violations committed by Turkey and Russia, two countries involved in the conflict.

The EU sanctioned in September a Turkish shipowner guilty of embargo violations by freezing its assets in the EU.

In chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya is today torn between two rival camps: the unity government (GNA), based in Tripoli and recognized by the UN, and a power in the Is embodied by Marshal Haftar.

The GNA is supported by Turkey, while Camp Haftar is supported by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Egypt.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-11-23

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