Libyan gov't says Italian vessels entered territorial waters without permission

Libya's internationally recognized government said on Saturday that three Italian ships had entered the Libyan territorial waters without prior permission from the Libyan authorities.

The Libyan government holds the Italian authorities responsible for the entry of these ships to the Libyan territorial waters, and calls upon the Italian authorities to respect treaties signed between the two countries, according to a statement.

The commander of the Libyan air force said that the naval vessels had been spotted off the coast of Benghazi in eastern Libya before heading to the eastern city of Derna.

He explained that warplanes were flying low above the vessels as warning, with no striking.

The Libyan government said it will not hesitate to use all the means to protect the borders and sovereignty of its land.

Earlier in October, the EU launched Operation Sophia aiming to intercept boats carrying migrants across the Mediterranean from the anarchic Libya. Endit