Overview

• The rescue ship reported sustained gunfire in international waters about 40 nautical miles north of Libya, causing heavy damage to the bridge, antennas and rescue equipment but no injuries.
• SOS Méditerranée says the vessel was authorized by Italy to search for another distress case when a Libyan patrol ordered it to withdraw and then opened fire.
• The crew issued a distress call and alerted NATO, and the call was referred to an Italian navy ship that did not answer according to the NGO.
• Libya’s coast guard acknowledged a confrontation but said it fired only warning shots, disputing the account of a targeted attack.
• Eighty‑seven rescued people have now disembarked in Augusta, Sicily, as the group demands a criminal investigation and an end to EU cooperation with Libyan units, noting the patrol boat involved was supplied by Italy in 2023; the European Commission says it has contacted Libyan authorities for clarification.