Lebanese Navy Rescues 99 Migrants from Distressed Boats

The Lebanese navy successfully rescued 99 migrants attempting to flee the country illegally on Friday, Xinhua reported yesterday.

The operation involved the rescue of 98 Syrians and one Lebanese national from two boats that were sinking while en route to the Cypriot islands. The National News Agency noted that among those rescued were children, all of whom were Syrian nationals seeking better living conditions.

In recent months, there has been a notable increase in the number of Syrian and Palestinian refugees, along with Lebanese citizens, attempting to leave Lebanon amid a severe financial crisis that has plunged over 80% of the population into poverty. The ongoing Hezbollah-Israel conflict has further exacerbated the situation, displacing hundreds of thousands. In response, Lebanese security agencies have intensified efforts to combat illegal immigration.