A U.S. Africa Command unit on a surveillance mission off the coast of Libya helped rescue 131 migrants on July 21, 2020, after picking up their distress signal at sea, the military said this week. STUTTGART, Germany — A U.S. Africa Command unit on a surveillance mission off the coast of Libya helped rescue 131 migrants after picking up their distress signal at sea, the military said this week. “Our routine surveillance along the North Africa Coast gave us an opportunity to lend a helping hand,” said AFRICOM’s Gen. Stephen Townsend in a statement Tuesday. The migrants were stranded in the Mediterranean Sea, some 40 miles northwest of Misrata, Libya, on a raft that was deflating, AFRICOM said. AFRICOM did not disclose what unit was performing a surveillance mission in the area, but unmanned U.S. aircraft have been active in and around Libya.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 29, 2020 10:30 UTC