17 July 2018•Update: 17 July 2018
By Hamdi Yildiz
TRIPOLI
At least 158 undocumented migrants have been rescued off Libya's northwestern coast, the country’s navy said Monday.
In a statement, naval forces affiliated with Libya’s UN-recognized unity government said the migrants were rescued 26 miles off the coast of the northwestern city of Khoms, located east of the capital Tripoli.
Ever since the collapse of the central authority in Libya in 2011, the country’s northwestern coast has become a hub for illegal migration to Italy and other countries in Europe.
Libya represents a major transit point for African migrants seeking access to Europe, especially Italy.
