Thousands of Syrian migrants have attempted to reach Cyprus by boat in recent years. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — The Lebanese navy on Saturday intercepted a Syrian vessel, with passengers on board, after it entered Lebanese territorial waters, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Here’s what we know:
• According to the NNA, the vessel was heading for Cyprus and had entered Lebanese territorial waters by mistake. The navy confiscated the vessel and handed the Syrians on board to the appropriate authorities, the NNA added without specifying the number of Syrians on board.
• Ten years of war and a raging economic crisis have pushed many Syrians to flee their country by any means possible. At least 1,337 Syrians have reached Cyprus by sea since 2019.
• Nicosia has asked the European Union’s border agency Frontex to control the clandestine arrival of migrants from countries such as Turkey, Syria and Lebanon.
• Cyprus also signed an agreement with Lebanon in 2020 to return anyone trying to reach the island by boat.