On Wednesday, Operation IRINI, an EU-funded maritime mission-focused on implementing the UN arms embargo on Libya, reported that on six occasions, Turkey “denied consent to board and inspect suspect vessels.”
In its latest monthly report, Operation IRINI said that since its launch, the operation “has boarded and inspected 22 suspect vessels.”
“One vessel out of 22 was diverted to a port of an EU member state, where its cargo was seized,” the report read.
Furthermore, it has investigated 858 suspect flights, 25 airports, 16 ports, and provided 36 special reports to the UN Panel of Experts on Libya. Most of which referred to violations or possible violations of the arms embargo, and oil smuggling activities in the west and the east of Libya.
The operation affirmed that these results “have demonstrated IRINI’s effectiveness and impartiality.”
“All inspections or friendly methods are always carried out in accordance with the framework of relevant UNSC resolutions, and in full respect of international law. It added that, “inspections and friendly methods do not affect the nature of the activities of the ships that have been questioned or inspected.”
In February, the Director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Rami Abdel-Rahman stated that the process of sending Syrian mercenaries to Libya remains ongoing.
Abdel-Rahman explained that Turkey continues to exchange mercenaries, and send more fighters, with many using scaling to Italy through smuggling lines.
In statements, the SOHR Director said that there are still thousands of Syrians present in western Libya.
“There is a Turkish security company that is taking them from Syria, and giving them a legal cover in Libya by working for the Turkish security company,” he claimed.
SOHR called for the withdrawal of all Syrians, “who have turned into tools in the hands of the Turkish government” and for their immediate return to Syria.