The European Union on Monday launched a naval operation aimed at halting people smugglers in Libya who so far this year have sent about 60,000 migrants sailing across the Mediterranean Sea, headed for Italy on flimsy boats.
Six naval ships, two submarines, two drones and three surveillance aircraft will make up the fleet, which will be led by an Italian aircraft carrier, the Cavour, and will run for 12 months.
Fourteen European nations including Italy, France, Germany, Spain and Britain are backing the operation, which was conceived after approximately 800 migrants drowned when their wooden vessel capsized in April.