The Tunisian Navy intervened on Monday to prevent the seizure of two Tunisian fishing boats by the Libyan Coast Guard accused of fishing in Libyan waters.

Tunisian Defense Ministry Spokesman Colonel Mohamed Zeki said that the two vessels were in Tunisian territorial waters and were accompanied by units towards the coastal city of Sfax.

In recent years, the Libyan Coast Guard has repeatedly detained Tunisian fishing boats due to the penetration of some of them into Libyan territorial waters. The accused are usually released after a short period of detention and fine payments.