B2 The Geopolitical Europe Blog. News. Reflections. Reports

North Africa Libya Brief blog

Two Italians killed in Sabratha raid

March 3, 2016March 5, 2016 Nicolas Gros Verheyde

(B2) Two of Daesh's four Italian hostages, Fausto Piano and Salvatore Failla, were indeed killed in a raid on Sabratha, Farnesina (the Italian Foreign Ministry) confirmed this morning. Employees of Bonetti, they had been kidnapped last July. The circumstances of their death are rather confusing. According to the official version, they would be dead when the convoy they were traveling in was attacked by Libyan security forces. Shooting between the security forces and a group of militiamen de The Islamic State would have caused 7 deaths also by the Jihadists. This news comes on top of the death of two Serbian hostages killed in US raid announced by theSerbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, Saturday (20 February). He also warned “that this attack killed several foreign nationals”.

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

[News] Sorbonne 2024. Emmanuel Macron's key ideas for European defense. Sympathetic… (v2) April 25th
(B2) We need a Europe with power in defense, security and partnerships. This is the main idea developed by French President Emmanuel Macron this Thursday (April 25) in the Sorbonne amphitheater. It now remains to
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[Interview] ASPIDES. A purely defensive operation that solves nothing. Forgotten geopolitical issues (Pascal Ausseur, FMES) April 8th
(B2) For Admiral Pascal Ausseur who heads the Mediterranean Foundation for Strategic Studies, the maritime operation launched by the Europeans in the Red Sea and in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is not entirely justified , nor at
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[News] In the Red Sea, 68 ships escorted by Aspides. First assessment after seven weeks April 8th
(B2) Eleven attacks have been repelled in the Red Sea since February 23, according to Josep Borrell. Visibly satisfied with the performance of the latest EU maritime operations. The High Representative of the EU
Olivier Jehin
[News] Eurocorps head dismissed. For violation of defense secrecy March 27, 2024
(B2) Polish General Gromadziński is no longer the head of the European Corps. He has just been dismissed from his position and his security clearance has been revoked by the Polish government. With immediate effect. Reason
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[Portrait] Three new heads of CSDP missions in Georgia, Palestine and Somalia March 26, 2024
(B2) The COPS ambassadors approved this Tuesday, March 26, the appointment of three heads of mission. A French woman in Georgia In Georgia, the appointment of General Bettina Boughani is confirmed, as of
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[Report] Steadfast Defender 24: the clear message of the return of major NATO maneuvers March 10, 2024
(B2 in Poland) The Allies are engaged in exercises on a scale not seen since the end of the Cold War. 90 soldiers and an entire arsenal engaged in maneuvers crossing numerous countries,
Romain Mielcarek
[Exclusive] Create a special fund dedicated to European defense? An idea to explore 23th February 2024
(B2) Between a European Peace Facility stuck by German difficulties and a tight budget at community level, a third way could emerge to support the rise of the manufacturing industry.
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[Decryption] Operation EUNAVFOR Aspides officially established (v3) 8th February 2024
(B2 - exclusive) Objective, modes of action, area of operation, commands, budget, coordination, intelligence... the main elements of the new European operation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are now known . Text explanations. Validated
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[Verbatim] Military support for Ukraine. Between Paris and Berlin, like zests of nuance. kyiv as referee? 2th February 2024
(B2) At the end of the European Council, we were able to witness a detailed exchange, via press conferences, between the German Chancellor and the French President. Subliminal messages were passed
Nicolas Gros Verheyde