A migrant boat carrying 124 people broke down off the coast near the Ramkin Island, having launched from Lebanese shores. Subsequently, the passengers called for help from the Lebanese Army, which brought the boat to the Tripoli port. The Lebanese Red Cross is working to rescue and assist the passengers, who are Syrian and Palestinian, noting that there are no injuries. Immediate directions were given to the management of Tripoli Port to provide urgent humanitarian and logistical assistance to all 125 passengers rescued by the Lebanese Army. All ports in Lebanon will continue to fulfill their national and humanitarian roles in all circumstances.
Minister of Public Works and Transport in the caretaker government, Ali Hamieh, contacted Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, praising the army’s efforts in rescuing the boat. He instructed Tripoli Port Director Ahmed Tamer to provide all logistical facilities and ensure all necessary support for the rescued passengers upon their arrival at the Tripoli port.
In the army's first statement regarding the disabled boat, it was stated: "On 6/10/2023, a patrol from the navy thwarted a human smuggling operation across the sea in a manner that is not legal off the coast of Tripoli, and succeeded in rescuing 124 illegal migrants of Syrian nationality (including 8 women and 24 children) who were on board one of the boats in the mentioned area."
