Operation Irini

The European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) was launched on March 31, 2020 with the aim to enforce the United Nations arms embargo to Libya. Operation IRINI is a European Union military operation under the umbrella of the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). The operation is expected to use aerial, maritime and satellite assets.[1] This arms embargo is constantly violated and was called a joke by the UN deputy special envoy for Libya Stephanie Williams.[2]

Tasks

Operation IRINI (Greek for "peace") has basically the same duties of the former Operation Sophia, but with different priorities.

The primary task of the Operation is the implementation of the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council – through UN Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011)[3] and UN Security Council Resolution 2292 (2016).[4] By contributing to stemming the flow of weapons into Libya, the Operation will help create the conditions for a permanent ceasefire in Libya.

As secondary tasks, the Operation:

  • Contributes to the implementation of UN measures to prevent the illicit export of petroleum from Libya through monitoring and surveillance activities, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2146 (2014) and UN Security Council Resolution 2509 (2020);[5]
  • provides capacity building and training of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy in law enforcement tasks at sea;
  • contributes to the disruption of the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2240 (2015).[6][7]

Chain of Command and Headquarters

The Operation Commander is Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini (Italian Navy) and the headquarters are located in Rome, Italy. The Deputy Operation Commander is Rear Admiral Jean-Michel Martinet (French Navy).
The Force Commander is Real Admiral Ettore Socci (Italian Navy).[8] Italy and Greece will alternate the Force Commander every six months (together with the rotation of the flagship).[9]

Duration

The initial mandate of Operation IRINI will last until 31 March 2021.[1] The former Operation Sophia permanently ceased its activity at the same time of the launch of IRINI.[1]

Assets

Naval assets (active)
 Italy: ITS San Giorgio - flagship - from July 2020[10]
 Greece: Hydra class frigate Spetsai from June 2020[11]
 Germany: Sachsen-class frigate Hamburg expected mid-August 2020[12]

Naval assets (past)
 France: Cassard class frigate Jean Bart from May 4, 2020[9][13]
 Greece: Hydra class frigate Hydra from May 2020[14]


Air assets
 France: Falcon 50 from Jul, 2020[9][15]
 Germany: P-3C Orion from May, 2020[16][17][18]
 Greece: EMB-145H from Jul, 2020[9][19]
 Italy: Predator B from Jul, 2020[9][20]
 Luxembourg: Swearingen Merlin from May 4, 2020[9][21]
 Poland: An-28B1R Bryza from May, 2020[22]

Criticism

It has been remarked about the operation that "the vast majority of weapon deliveries to Libya do not come via sea". However, the same source also points out that the use of the satellite assets could be critical to track and provide evidence of the violations to the embargo.[23]

In April 2020, the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya objected to the operation because it would affect the arms supplies from Turkey.[24]

In May 2020, Malta pulled out of Operation IRINI and threatened to put a veto to EU funds for the Operation, with a move that is seen by some as it could also impacts the Turkish-Libyan agreement. [25] [26]

Early in June 2020, Russia was the only Security Council member which raised concerns about renewing authorization for the operation which was about to expire on June 10.[27]

Turkey in June and July 2020, criticized the operation as being "not objective"[28] and said that the operation is supporting the Khalifa Haftar.[29] Furthermore, in June European diplomats and officials said that Turkey is blocking EU attempts to secure NATO’s help for the operation.[30] In addition, in August 2020, Turkey criticized Germany for it's participation in the operation, after Germany decided to sent a frigate on August.[28]

Incidents

In May 2020, a war ship participated in the operation intercepted an oil tanker off the coast of Tobruk and didn't let it to dock in Tobruk. The Gabon-flagged vessel had not received authorization from the Tripoli-based Libyan National Oil Corporation. After this event Russia had raised concerns regarding the operation's authorizations.[27]

On June 10, 2020, a Greek frigate which was under the command of IRINI operation, tried to check a Tanzanian-flagged cargo vessel which was suspected of carrying arms to Libya, but it was ordered to retreat after warning from Turkish frigates which accompanied the cargo vessel. According to sources, the Turkish commander message was that 'the Turkish ship is under the protection of the Turkish republic'.[31][32][33][34] Later, on June 17, 2020, France accused Turkey that Turkish ships harassed a French warship of the Operation Sea Guardian which tried to check a Turkish vessel, which was suspected of smuggling arms to Libya, and that the Turkish navy is using their NATO call signals while accompanying Turkish vessels suspected of breaking the UN arms embargo in Libya.[35] According to French officials, when the French ship tried to check the vessel, the Turkish vessel switched off its tracking system, masked its ID number and refused to say where it was going while the Turkish frigates flashed their radar lights three times against the French warship, suggesting a missile strike was imminent.[36] On the other hand, Turkish officials, denied that the warship was harassed and claimed that the French warship did not establish communications with the Turkish vessel during the incident and provided fuel from the Turkish vessel.[37][38][39] On June 18, NATO said that it will investigate the incident.[40][41]. However on July 1, following a 3 weeks long investigation and preparing a 130 pages long report of the incident, NATO came into conclusion that the Turkish vessels did not harass the French frigate and found French claims to be insufficient.[42]

Presence on web and social
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See also

References
  1. "EU launches Operation IRINI to enforce Libya arms embargo". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  2. "Libya arms embargo is a joke says un envoy as ceasefire talks stall". theguardian.com. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. "S/RES/1970 (2011) | United Nations Security Council". United Nations Security Council. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  4. "S/RES/2292 (2016) | United Nations Security Council". United Nations Security Council. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  5. "S/RES/2509 (2020) | United Nations Security Council". United Nations Security Council. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  6. "S/RES/2240 (2015) | United Nations Security Council". United Nations Security Council. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  7. "Operation Irini Factsheet" (PDF). www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  8. "Operation Irini Chain of Command". www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  9. "Operation Irini sets sail". www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  10. "ITS San Giorgio" (PDF). www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  11. "HS Spetsai" (PDF). www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  12. "Germany sends frigate to patrol off Libya as part of EU operation Irini". www.infomigrants.net. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  13. "Jean Bart" (PDF). www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  14. "Hellenic Navy frigate HS HYDRA leaves Operation IRINI due to technical problems". navalnews.net. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  15. "FRA Falcon 50" (PDF). www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  16. "Deutschland bietet Seefernaufklärer P-3C Orion für Mittelmeer-Mission an". welt.de. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  17. "2020.04.01 Germany offers P-3C Orion maritime reconnaissance aircraft for a Mediterranean mission" (PDF). www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  18. "GER PC3 ORION" (PDF). www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  19. "GRC EMB-145H" (PDF). www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  20. "ITA Predator" (PDF). www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  21. "LUX SW3 MERLIN III" (PDF). www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  22. "An-28B1R BRYZA" (PDF). www.operationirini.eu. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  23. "The EU's 'Irini' Libya mission: Europe's Operation Cassandra". ecfr.eu. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  24. "Il Foglio: GNA Refuses Operation IRINI Because It Will Disrupt Arms Supplies From Turkeyr". almarsad.co. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  25. "Malta pulls out of new EU Libya sea patrols in migration row". www.reuters.com. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  26. "Malta's Withdrawal from EU Operation IRINI Signals Support for Turkish-Libyan Corridor". libyareview.com. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  27. "EU tries to reassure Russia over Operation Irini". dailysabah.com. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  28. "Libya: Turkey Criticizes Germany On Enforcing Libya Arms Embargo". allafrica.com. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  29. "Turkey slams EU's Irini Operation in Med Sea". hurriyetdailynews.com. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  30. "Turkey the key to unlocking NATO help for EU naval operation". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  31. "Turkey blocked EU embargo check on ship near Libya". arabnews.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  32. "Turkish ship suspected of carrying arms to Libya spotted in central Med". ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  33. "Drama in the Med: Greek navy tries to stop cargo ship accompanied by Turkish frigates". middleeasteye.net. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  34. "Greek navy backs off after trying to stop Turkish frigate en route to Libya". dailysabah.com. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  35. "NATO must deal with, not ignore Turkish problem: French official". reuters.com. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  36. "Turkey navy accused of harassing French frigate in Med". aroundworld24.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  37. "Turkey navy accused of harassing French frigate in Med". middleeastmonitor.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  38. Ozer, Sarp (18 June 2020). "Turkey denies harassing French vessel in Mediterranean". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  39. "Turkish Military Official Denies French Claim That Warship Was Harassed". nytimes.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  40. "NATO to investigate Mediterranean incident with Turkey". reuters.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  41. "Operation Irini: Turkey slams EU mission to contain arms to Libya". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  42. "Akdeniz'de Türk-Fransız çekişmesi: NATO'da ilk raundu Ankara mı kazandı?". bbc.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
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