In a deployment that highlighted the equipment mismatch of many militaries for OOTW (Operations Other Than War), six warships were sent to tackle migrant traffickers.
This is not the first time that a large scale mission by navy warships was used to tackle the tide of migrant boats to Europe. A Italian Navy flotilla supported by a Slovenia navy ship deployed for Operation Mare Nostrum off the coast of Libya in 2013. The search and rescue mission assisted more 150,000 migrants to reach Europe safely.
In the latest operation, codenamed Operation Sophia, the six naval warships will have the power to stop, board, seize and destroy traffickers' boats in international waters. The warships comprises of an Italian aircraft carrier, a French frigate and one British, one Spanish and two German vessels.
Marina Militarie
EUnavfor-med
This is not the first time that a large scale mission by navy warships was used to tackle the tide of migrant boats to Europe. A Italian Navy flotilla supported by a Slovenia navy ship deployed for Operation Mare Nostrum off the coast of Libya in 2013. The search and rescue mission assisted more 150,000 migrants to reach Europe safely.
In the latest operation, codenamed Operation Sophia, the six naval warships will have the power to stop, board, seize and destroy traffickers' boats in international waters. The warships comprises of an Italian aircraft carrier, a French frigate and one British, one Spanish and two German vessels.
Operation Sophia was preceded by EUnavfor Med Phase 1. EUNAVFOR Med Phase 2 was renamed "Sophia" after the name given to the baby girl born on a German warship which rescued her Somali mother on 22 August 2015 off the coast of Libya. Operation Sophia is aimed at disrupting the operation and business model of human smuggling networks in the Mediterranean.
CNA
Photo: Courtesy of Council of European Union
Marina Militarie
EUnavfor-med
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