Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the release of the two Italian fishing boats and their crew consisting of 13 sailors, after being seized in the town of Ras al-Hilal in eastern Libya.

Conti told reporters during his visit to Eritrea, that the Italian citizens are now free to return to their homes, stressing that his government did not disregard their case and has constantly sought to overcome this situation.

East Libya forces confirmed that naval forces in Sousse had seized two Italian fishing vessels in Libyan waters and took them to the port of Ras al-Hilal.