Eastern Libya, controlled by Russia-backed military commander Khalifa Haftar, is emerging as a major departure point for migrants heading to Europe, particularly through the Mediterranean route to Greece and Italy.
- Eastern Libya, controlled by Russia-backed Khalifa Haftar, is becoming a key departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe, especially Italy and Crete.
- Nearly 25,000 migrants arrived in Italy and Crete from Libya and Tunisia in the first half of 2026, with eastern Libya's role in these routes growing.
- Arrivals to Italy have dropped 54% compared to 2025, but migrant deaths in the Mediterranean remain high, with 1,757 reported dead or missing by August 2026.
- The EU is expanding funding and coordination efforts with Haftar's eastern Libya, even though there is no direct evidence of Russian involvement in these migration flows.
Nearly 25,000 migrants reached Italy and the Greek island of Crete during the first six months of 2026, according to figures published by migration monitoring organisation Alarm Phone.
Of those, approximately 15,800 arrived in Italy from Libya and Tunisia, while another 9,000 reached Crete from Libya, highlighting the growing importance of departures from eastern Libya.
The figures come as European governments tighten border controls while expanding cooperation with Haftar's authorities to manage migration across the Mediterranean.
Russia-backed eastern Libya draws European attention
Libya has remained divided between rival administrations since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Its internationally recognised government operates from Tripoli in the west, while Haftar's forces control much of the east.
Russia has long supported Haftar's forces with weapons and military assistance while maintaining a presence at several Libyan airbases.
With more migrants travelling from eastern Libya towards Crete, Haftar's control of the region has become important to European migration policy.
In August 2026, German magazine Der Spiegel and broadcaster Report Mainz cited internal European documents suggesting that Haftar's family could be using migrant departures to pressure Brussels.
According to an internal German Foreign Ministry document cited in the investigation, the EU ambassador to Libya described migrants as "a means to an end and a business model" for Haftar's family, amid rising departures towards the Greek island of Crete.
Italy records fewer arrivals as migration routes shift
Figures published by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) show that 19,562 migrants reached Italy by sea between January and August 2026, compared with 42,693 during the same period in 2025, representing a decline of approximately 54%.
Libya accounted for 81% of arrivals, equivalent to around 15,845 people, while Algeria and Tunisia accounted for 10% and 9%, respectively.
Despite the annual decline, arrivals increased in August, when 2,995 migrants reached Italy, up 37% from 2,179 in July.
Libya accounted for 84% of departures that month, while 69% of arrivals landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa.
During the eight-month period, Bangladeshis made up the largest share of arrivals at 27%, followed by Somalis (12%), Algerians (10%), Sudanese (8%), Eritreans and Egyptians (6% each), and Nigerians and Malians (2% each).
EU expands cooperation with Haftar-controlled eastern Libya
Rising departures towards Crete have prompted Brussels to strengthen migration cooperation with authorities in eastern Libya, despite formally recognising only the rival government in Tripoli.
In July 2026, the EU announced plans to establish a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Benghazi, with financial support from Italy and Malta, to improve maritime surveillance and search-and-rescue operations.
Brussels followed this in October with an additional €25 million commitment to support border management, rescue operations and efforts to combat migrant smuggling in eastern Libya.
Mediterranean crossings remain deadly
Despite the decline in arrivals in Italy, the Mediterranean remains one of the world's most dangerous migration routes.
Citing International Organization for Migration figures, UNHCR reported that 1,757 people died or went missing across Mediterranean routes between January and August 2026, excluding the north-west African route.
Of those, 938 deaths and disappearances occurred along the central Mediterranean route, compared with 835 during the same period in 2025.
Alarm Phone also documented distress alerts involving 280 boats during the first six months of 2026, down from 334 during the corresponding period in 2025.
The organisation raised concerns about interceptions by Libyan and Tunisian authorities, warning that migrants returned to Libya could face detention, exploitation and abuse.