Irish Defence Forces / Flickr Picture supplied by Irish Defence Forces from naval operation today Irish Defence Forces / Flickr / Flickr

IRISH NAVAL VESSEL LÉ Eithne rescued approximately 183 people this morning in the Mediterranean Sea, just north of the Libyan capital Tripoli.

While on patrol at around 6am this morning, the LÉ Eithne located and rescued 113 refugees from an inflatable craft 40km north-west of Tripoli.

The crew on the ship then identified another craft in distress, and a second rescue operation was launched.

A further 70 people were rescued from this boat.

There are currently 183 on board the LÉ Eithne and the Irish vessel is enroute to assist in another rescue operation in the region.

Irish Defence Forces / Flickr Picture supplied by Irish Defence Forces of naval operation today Irish Defence Forces / Flickr / Flickr

The LÉ Eithne was deployed to the Mediterranean on 23 May 2017, as part of the government’s response to the refugee crisis.

The Irish navy’s role is to provide a search and rescue capability and undertake humanitarian rescue operations at sea.

Read: Irish Navy rescues over 700 people off Libyan coast

Read: An Irish Naval vessel is heading to the Mediterranean for our seventh migrant rescue mission

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