By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 30 March 2015:
Italy is planning to launch a marine operation, called Mare Sicuro, to patrol the Mediterranean waters near Libya's coastline to protect Italian-owned oil rigs and prevent Islamic States militants from infiltrating Italy's shores.
The operation is to include two FREMM-class frigates, a patrol vessel, a landing helicopter dock vessel, Predator drone , along with radar and other surveillance equipment for monitoring communications and shipping. At any one time, a contingent of Italian marines will be the mission.
Italian oil company ENI has considerable assets Libyan waterst. Just last month the company made a significant offshore discovery, just 22 kilometres from another productive ENI offshore field. It is in Italy's interests to protect these assets as well as the sub-sea Greenstream Pipeline that carries natural gas to Sicily.