Libyan Coast Guard Opens Fire On German Humanitarian Rescue Ship In Mediterranean

Armed vessels linked to Libya’s coast guard reportedly opened fire on a German humanitarian rescue ship after it rescued around 90 migrants from an overcrowded wooden boat in the central Mediterranean, according to humanitarian group Sea-Watch.

The group said its vessel, Sea-Watch 5, came under fire on Monday shortly after carrying out a rescue operation north of Libya’s coast.

According to Sea-Watch, the rescue took place at around 0800 GMT about 27 miles off the Libyan coast.

The organisation later said the incident happened around 55 nautical miles north of Tripoli in international waters.

Sea-Watch said armed vessels linked to the Libyan coast guard approached the ship and opened fire.

According to the group, one shot was fired first, followed by a burst of around 10 to 15 rounds. The organisation said the vessels also ordered the Sea-Watch 5 to stop.

The group later said militia members aboard the Libyan vessel used radio communications to order the rescue ship to sail to Libya and threatened to board the vessel after the crew refused.

At the time of the incident, around 30 crew members and the rescued migrants were aboard the vessel. The organisation said those on board feared for their lives during the confrontation.

The crew sent a mayday call and alerted Italian and German authorities before later issuing a second distress message after additional Libyan-linked vessels were reportedly seen nearby.

An Italian coast guard spokesperson confirmed authorities had received reports about the incident.

Roberto D’Arrigo said it appeared to be a security incident and that the relevant authorities, including Germany as the ship’s flag state, had been informed.

Italian authorities said the Sea-Watch 5 was operating inside the search-and-rescue area coordinated by Libya when the incident happened.

The vessel was later escorted out of the area and headed north towards the Italian port of Brindisi, which was assigned as a place of safety.

A spokesperson for the Libyan government in Tripoli did not respond to requests for comment.

The European Commission said the EU delegation in Tripoli would contact Libyan authorities to seek clarification and establish the facts surrounding the incident.

The Commission also said all sides involved in search-and-rescue operations must comply fully with international law and international maritime law.

Germany’s Foreign Office confirmed that the Sea-Watch 5 crew had contacted the German Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and other government departments after the incident.

Germany’s embassy in Tripoli has also asked Libyan authorities for an immediate explanation.

Sea-Watch criticised European support for Libya’s coast guard operations and said tensions during rescue missions in the Mediterranean have continued for years.

The organisation said it has documented more than 75 cases of extreme violence involving Libyan militias in the Mediterranean since 2016.

The European Union has provided Libya with around €700 million since 2015, much of it aimed at strengthening border management and reducing migrant flows through the country.

The European Commission has also funded Italian-led cooperation with the Libyan coast guard since 2017, contributing around €59 million.

Humanitarian organisations and human rights groups have repeatedly criticised the arrangement, saying migrants intercepted at sea are often returned to detention centres in Libya where abuses have been reported.

Sea-Watch also said its crews came under fire in September 2025, leading the organisation to file criminal complaints in Rome and Hamburg last month.

Other rescue groups have reported similar incidents. In August 2025, humanitarian organisation SOS Mediterranee said Libya’s coast guard fired on its vessel Ocean Viking while it was searching for a migrant boat in distress in international waters.

International organisations including Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders have also called for the EU to stop working with the Libyan coast guard following previous incidents.

Libya remains one of the main departure points for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe. Thousands of people have died during the journey over the years.

According to the International Organization for Migration, nearly 8,000 people died or disappeared on migration routes in 2025.

The agency said the central Mediterranean route from Libya and Tunisia to southern Europe remains the deadliest migration route to Europe based on available evidence.

Reports of violence and abuse against migrants inside Libya have also intensified.

Earlier this year, several mass graves containing migrant bodies were discovered at multiple locations across the country, including sites linked to armed security groups.

Separately, the International Criminal Court is scheduled to hold hearings from May 19 to 21 regarding alleged crimes against migrants and refugees in Libya.

The hearings involve Khaled Mohamed al-Hishri, a senior figure linked to the former Special Deterrence Forces militia, also known as RADA.

He is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes against Libyan nationals and migrants held at Mitiga Prison in Tripoli between 2014 and 2020.

The central Mediterranean search-and-rescue zone is among the world’s busiest maritime migration corridors.

Under international maritime law, vessels encountering people in distress at sea are required to provide assistance regardless of nationality or migration status.

Libya coordinates a large search-and-rescue area off its coast, although many humanitarian groups dispute the safety of returning rescued migrants to Libyan territory.

Rescue vessels operating in the region frequently communicate with Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) in Italy, Germany and Libya during emergencies.

References: apnews, dpa international