Greece Sends Frigate Salamis to Libya; Greek Embassy in Tripoli Closed [UPDATE]

Greece has closed its embassy in Libya and is withdrawing its diplomatic mission from Tripoli as militia and Libyan troops are fighting for the city’s control.

In an operation spearheaded by the Greek Navy, frigate Salamis left Greece on Wednesday with the mission to carry out of Libya Greek citizens and diplomatic staff who are still in the country. Salamis is expected to arrive in Libya on Thursday morning.

The past two weeks of fighting have been the worst since the Libyan civil war that ousted Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, and many countries, including France and USA, have also withdrawn their diplomatic missions from Libya.

Libya warned last Monday of the risk of a humanitarian and environmental disaster after a second fuel tank caught fire amid heavy fighting at Tripoli airport between rival militias.

“Two brigades of former rebels, mainly rooted in the towns of Zintan and Misrata, have pounded each other’s positions in Tripoli with Grad rockets, artillery fire and cannon, turning the south of the capital into a battlefield,” Reuters reported.

Clashes have been ongoing in Benghazi since July 14 between the Libyan army, which backs operations carried out by retired Libyan general Khalifa Haftar on one side and Libya’s Revolutionary Shura Council on the other, which is backed by the Ansar Al-Sharia militia.

A leader of the council told Anadolu Agency that his fighters had managed to capture the garrison, having controlled five more Libyan army garrisons in Benghazi the past few days.

Citizens who wish to communicate with the Greek Embassy in Libya can do so using the following emergency phone number (+21891) 3581227.

Second Frigate Sent to Libya

The Greek Navy operation has taken a new turn, as another frigate, Prometheus, was ordered to sail to Libya for support.

The frigate’s departure was necessary in order to support the voyage of  Salamis and escort a passenger ship to Libya. The number of people who are asking to board Greek ships is constantly growing and Salamis could not transport them all.