Libya has vowed to counter Italian ships helping control migrant movement on its territorial waters.
Italian troops wanted out of Libya
The country finds the Rome decision undermining to their national sovereignty.
The army officer in charge of Eastern Libya, has asked his soldiers to confront any foreign naval ships on Libyan waters.
The Italian defence minister, Roberta Pinotti said, “There will be no harm done or slight given to Libyan sovereignty, because, if anything, our aim is to strengthen Libyan sovereignty.”
While the Libyan parliament has opposed any related agreements, the Italians say they are acting at the request of Tripoli but Fayez Al Sarraj, the Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord claims he doesn’t remember authorizing Italy to deploy on the territorial waters of his country to fight illegal immigration.
The European Union recently enforced a restriction on the sale of inflatable boats to Libya in a bid to stop the treacherous journeys.
It is from Libya that most of the 100,000 refugees and migrants departed from this year to arrive in Italy.