FS Jacoubet in Operation Sophia: to break Italian solitude?

(B2) A French Navy aviso, theensign Jacoubet (F-794) has just joined EUNAVFOR MED, the EU's maritime counter-trafficking operation in the Mediterranean, the operation's HQ announced on Friday (15 February).

Not too alone

The presence of the Royal ship – which is not its first participation in this operation – allows the Italians not to feel too alone. Operation Sophia now only has one other ship, the Italian FREMM-type frigate, Luigi Rizzo (F-595), serving as flagship. The mandate of the operation normally ends on March 31, 2019, and the '28' have not yet managed to agree on its extension.

Homecoming for Reina Sofia

The Spanish frigate Reina Sofía (F-84) has indeed completed its rotation. After 124 days in operation, she returned to her home port on Tuesday (February 19) with her 215 crewmen and women. During these four months at sea, she checked the identity of 58 merchant ships (by 'hailing') and ensured five more direct approaches, known as 'friendly approaches'. All this to ensure the task of controlling the arms embargo against Libya, the fight against the trafficking of oil and human beings.

(NGV)