In an interview with
MEMO, Commander of Operation IRINI Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini disputes the criticism that the operation fails to effectively enforce the arms embargo imposed on Libya by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), aiming to limit foreign interference in the country s internal conflict.
On the contrary, the Italian admiral asserts: In ten months of activity, Operation IRINI has demonstrated its effectiveness and impartiality [in] implementing the UNSC s arms embargo throughout its area of operations, regardless of the actors involved.
Operation IRINI was launched after the previous European Union Naval Force operation, code-named Operation Sophia, ended in March 2020. While Operation Sophia focused on illegal migration out of Libya, IRINI is tasked with enforcing the UN arms embargo and fighting trafficking out of the country.