UPDATED: Italy’s Eni evacuates Italian staff from Libya…US AFRICOM relocates an unspecified contingent of US forces from Libya
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US Africa Command said it had relocated an unspecified contingent of US forces, while India said it had evacuated peacekeepers to Tunisia.
US Africa Command said it had relocated an unspecified contingent of US forces, while India said it had evacuated peacekeepers to Tunisia.
US Africa Command, responsible for US military operations and liaison in Africa, said that due to the “increased unrest” it had relocated a contingent of US forces, but gave no further details on numbers.
— U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (@USAfricaCommand) April 7, 2019
There were reports of a fast amphibious craft being used in the operation.
India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said its full contingent of 15 Central Reserve Police Force peacekeepers had been evacuated from Tripoli because the “situation in Libya has suddenly worsened”.
Earlier, Italian energy company Eni said it has decided to evacuate all its Italian national staff from Libya, confirming the evacuation of Italian employees from Al-Wafa and El Feel oilfields, as well as the capital Tripoli.
The UN is also due to pull out non-essential staff.
The Italian Foreign Ministry said that the step was taken in coordination between the two countries, while it has not confirmed yet the withdrawal of its diplomatic staff from its embassy in Tripoli, despite all European diplomats are present in Tunisia.
“The situation in the oil facilities in Libya are under control and the company is following development on the ground closely,” Eni Spokesman said.
