LÉ Niamh rescuing refugees off coast of Libya

Members of the Irish Defence Forces are carrying out a refugee rescue operation off the coast of Lybia.

The LÉ Niamh came across two vessels 54 kilometres north of Tripoli just after 9.30am this morning.

It is not yet known how many people have been rescued in today's operation.

File photo of the LÉ Niamh.