Greece Finds Weapons Shipment Headed for Libya on Cargo Ship
September 2, 2015A Greek coast guard special unit raided a Bolivian-flagged freighter off the southern island of Crete on Tuesday, and found a shipment of undeclared weapons apparently headed for Libya, The Associated Press (AP) reports.
The coast guard identified the cargo vessel as the Haddad 1, which sailed from the Turkish port of Iskenderun on August 29 and was headed for Libya’s western harbor of Misrata.
The coast guard added that the ship “was carrying arms without legal documentation.” It wasn’t initially clear what kind of armaments the vessel had on board.
The United Nations has imposed an embargo on weapons shipments to Libya. The embargo was imposed in 2011, during the civil war in that country between dictator Muammar Qaddafi and rebels.
Libya has remained divided between an elected parliament and government based in the eastern port of Tobruk, and an Islamist militia-backed government in the capital Tripoli, with jihadists from the Islamic State group also exploiting the chaos.
The Greek coast guard said the Haddad 1, with its crew of 7, is being taken to the port of Iraklio in northern Crete for a further search and investigation into the shipment early Wednesday.
Libya several months ago demanded that the UN Security Council lift the arms embargo so it can fight ISIS.
The request by Libya’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Dairi came after ISIS posted a video of the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya.
Al-Dairi stressed that Libya is not asking for international intervention, but said the international community has a “legal and moral responsibility to lend urgent support” and that the region, including the Mediterranean, is in danger.
“If we fail to have arms provided to us, this can only play into the hands of extremists,” he warned. He told reporters he wanted to see the same attention paid the danger in Libya as has been paid to Iraq and Syria, where a U.S.-led coalition is battling ISIS.
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...