The Lebanese Army reported rescuing 51 people, mostly Syrians, from a sinking migrant boat off the country's north coast on Sunday.
The military obtained "information about a vessel that was sinking off the coast of Tripoli while it was being used for illegal people smuggling,” the Army said in a statement.
Naval forces were able to "rescue 51 people aboard, including two Palestinians and 49 Syrians,” the statement added.
The Lebanese Red Cross helped provide assistance to those rescued, according to the statement, which did not specify where the boat was headed.
Migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees leaving by boat from Lebanon are generally seeking a better life in Europe and often head for the island of Cyprus, less than 200 kilometers away.
Lebanon hosts around two million Syrians, authorities say, while some 800,000 are registered with the United Nations — the world's highest number of refugees per capita.
Lebanese nationals have also been making the treacherous voyage towards Europe alongside Syrians fleeing war and economic woes in their country, as well as Palestinian refugees.
On December 1, the Lebanese Army said it disrupted a smuggling operation that saw 110 people, mostly from Syria, attempting to leave the country by sea.
The military obtained "information about a vessel that was sinking off the coast of Tripoli while it was being used for illegal people smuggling,” the Army said in a statement.
Naval forces were able to "rescue 51 people aboard, including two Palestinians and 49 Syrians,” the statement added.
The Lebanese Red Cross helped provide assistance to those rescued, according to the statement, which did not specify where the boat was headed.
Migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees leaving by boat from Lebanon are generally seeking a better life in Europe and often head for the island of Cyprus, less than 200 kilometers away.
Lebanon hosts around two million Syrians, authorities say, while some 800,000 are registered with the United Nations — the world's highest number of refugees per capita.
Lebanese nationals have also been making the treacherous voyage towards Europe alongside Syrians fleeing war and economic woes in their country, as well as Palestinian refugees.
On December 1, the Lebanese Army said it disrupted a smuggling operation that saw 110 people, mostly from Syria, attempting to leave the country by sea.
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