Libyan forces announced on Monday the detention of more than 300 migrants attempting to cross the desert en route to the Mediterranean.
The 444 Brigade, a military force under the Libyan army in Tripoli, shared aerial images showing men, women, and children sitting on the ground surrounded by armed soldiers.
According to a statement posted on the brigade’s Facebook page, the migrants were intercepted during a desert patrol and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities. However, no details were provided on when the operation took place.
Libya, a nation in turmoil since the 2011 NATO-backed overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, has remained divided between rival governments in Tripoli and Benghazi since 2014. The country has become a major transit point for migrants escaping poverty and conflict in Africa, the Middle East, and beyond, hoping to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe.
