EU-funded private rescuers allegedly encountered armed response from Libyan coastguard vessel
In the central Mediterranean, on June 8, 2025, the NGO Sea-Watch documented the presence of the Libyan Coast Guard vessel, the Houn (PB 664). The organisation's findings suggest that this boat, one of four Corrubia vessels transferred from Italy to Libya with EU support, was involved in an illegal interception. According to Sea-Watch, the Houn returned refugees to Libya after a brutal interception.
These allegations have prompted SOS Méditerranée, a humanitarian organisation dedicated to saving lives at sea, to demand an immediate cessation of any European cooperation with Libya. The director of SOS Méditerranée Italy, Valeria Taurino, made these demands, citing Libya's illegal actions in international waters and hindrance of search and rescue missions.
SOS Méditerranée accuses the EU and Italy of enabling such attacks through the equipping of the Libyan Coast Guard. The organisation also demands an end to the criminalization of rescue operations, arguing that it creates a breeding ground for violent attacks.
This is not the first time such incidents have been reported. In July 2023, a similar incident occurred when a Corrubia boat, during a rescue mission of the Ocean Viking, opened fire into the water.
The author of this article co-initiated the alliance "Sea Bridge" in 2018, but has not been active there since 2019. The article was edited and fact-checked by Sebastian Haupt.
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