Prime minister Paolo Gentiloni said that the Libyan government has appealed to Italy to provide it with naval support to combat human trafficking.

"Sarraj sent me a letter a few days ago in which the Italian government is asked for technical support with naval units to the fight against the trafficking of human beings," said Gentiloni.

The Italian PM statements came after a meeting in Rome with the head of the Libyan Presidential Council Fayez al Sarraj.

Gentiloni said that the request is necessary and would be carried out in Libyan waters by ships sent from Italy if the parliament agrees to support it.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants have been arriving to Italy since 2014.

Source: MENA