140 African migrants rescued off Libya

By Cihad Nasr

TRIPOLI, Libya

At least 140 African migrants were rescued off the coast of Libya, a navy spokesman said Friday.

Security teams rescued the migrants during a routine patrol by the coast guard, according to navy spokesman Col. Ayoub Qassem, who said the operation took place off the coast of Sabratha, west of Tripoli.

Eighty African migrants were also rescued off the coast of Garabulli, east of Tripoli, esarlier this month.

Approximately 1,800 migrants have died in the Mediterranean Sea since the beginning of 2017, according to the UN refugee agency.