Over 300 Migrants Detained in Libyan Desert, Military Force Says

Libyan soldiers have detained over 300 migrants attempting to cross the desert en route to the Mediterranean, Reuters reported yesterday citing the 444 Brigade, a military unit operating under the Libyan army.

Aerial footage released by the brigade shows groups of men, women, and children surrounded by soldiers.

The migrants were intercepted by a desert patrol and will be referred to the appropriate authorities, though the exact timing of the detentions was not disclosed.

Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has struggled with instability and has become a major transit hub for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty across Africa and the Middle East. Many hope to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean, often facing perilous conditions along the way.