Italy with the Hippocrates mission does not move from Libya. Between diplomats and military 500 are the Italians who have not left the African country.
The UN is pushing for Haftar to withdraw and start the Gadames conference on April 14. Italy with Giuseppe Conte and the Italian ambassador in Tripoli Giuseppe Buccino and the High Representative for EU foreign and security policy, Federica Mogherini, are trying in every way to intervene to make Generalissimo Haftar desist from the advance bloody.
The situation on the ground
The missile launched yesterday by the Haftar militias against a hangar at the Tripoli Mitiga international airport was probably aimed at hitting members of the Salafist militia that did not pass with the Benghazi army but could cause a massacre if it hit a plane with direct pilgrims in Mecca.
With regard to the possible repercussions for the departures of migrants, it should be noted that the IOM (International Organization of Migrants) has not abandoned the country. A long-term war could carry risks on increasing migratory flows. The "solidarity bridge" is still active and another project for 50 million euros financed together with the European Union which plans to provide assistance and aid, including economic ones, to the communities of the North West and the South but above all to those cities on the coast such as Zwara and Gasr whose population has often collaborated with human trafficking organizations.
Mission Sophia
The European mission Sophia would now have served but no longer has the naval device. Since last April, only six aircraft of various European contingents have been monitoring Libyan waters and Eni's oil platforms.
The mission which has its headquarters in Rome-Centocelle, however, continues the training activity on the ground for the Libyan Coast Guard.
The High Representative of EU Foreign and Defense Policy Mogherini recalled yesterday that the EU "has never considered Libya a safe country and the latest events sadly remind us of this." Mogherini explained that the training activity of the Libyan coastguard operation Sophia continues, underlining in particular the importance that is attributed to the human rights component.
Yesterday, the Italian ambassador Buccino met Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj who "confirmed his country's rejection of the aggression in Tripoli and the threat it represents for the lives of civilians, stressing the need for a return of 'army where it came from'.
Italian Foreign Minister Moavero Milanesi confirmed Italy's strong support for the efforts of the UN Special Representative, Salame.
Meanwhile in Italy tensions within the government are increasing precisely over the management of the Libya dossier. The League accuses the Minister of Defense Trenta of inaction, despite the reports launched several times by the Italian security agencies.