February 27, a naval helicopter from the Dutch frigate HNLMS Tromp, engaged in a consular evacuation operation in Sirte, was prevented from taking off by an armed Libyan unit loyal to the current regime.
Talks with the Libyan authorities about the situation thus created were launched immediately by the ship's command and by the Dutch authorities in The Hague. The 2 evacuees were transferred today by the Libyans to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tripoli.
After landing three members of the Netherlands Marine Corps using her helicopter near the town of Sirte, the helicopter and the three marines were captured by members of the Libyan Army. The two consular officials they were trying to rescue have now left Libya, while negotiations continue for the release of the three marines. The Dutch troops had not sought permission to enter Libyan air space, but added the citizens were rescued out of concern for a worsening security situation in Sirte, located 450 kilometres east of Tripoli.
HNLMS Tromp (F803), De Zeven Provinciën class frigate [very similar to the German Sachsen class], Lynx UH-14A
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