Libyan military detains over 300 migrants attempting desert crossing

Libya’s 444 brigade, operating under the Tripoli-based army, announced Monday that it had detained more than 300 migrants attempting to cross the desert toward the Mediterranean coast, Reuters reports. Aerial images released by the brigade showed men, women, and children sitting surrounded by soldiers. 

The migrants were intercepted during a desert patrol and will be referred to the appropriate authorities, according to a Facebook statement by the brigade. The timing of the detention was not disclosed.

Libya, fractured since the 2011 NATO-backed overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, remains a major transit hub for migrants fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East. The migrants aim to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe, often risking dangerous journeys. The country’s ongoing instability and divided governance between western and eastern factions have contributed to its role as a key migration route despite the perilous conditions.