Irish naval ship rescues 242 migrants off Libya

An Irish naval ship rescued 242 people from wooden crafts near the Libyan capital of Tripoli in its first operation since being deployed to assist an international migrant rescue effort, Ireland’s Defence Forces said on Monday.

The LÉ Samuel Beckett vessel, which was deployed on Sept. 25, rescued the people 93 kilometres north-west of Tripoli, the Defence Forces said, publishing a photograph on its Twitter account showing some people about to be lifted onto a ship.