TUNIS, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Tunisian security authorities launched a security campaign in the southeastern province of Sfax to stop the illegal immigration waves, Tunisian media reported on Saturday.
The security campaign based on instructions from Tunisian President Kais Saied aims to stop the unacceptable flow of illegal immigrants, said the official TAP news agency.
As part of the security campaign, the island of Kerkennah in Sfax province Saturday witnessed an aerial operation with the participation of many special security units and rapid intervention teams.
This campaign is carried out against the backdrop of the coast of the province becoming a major starting point for illegal immigrants as they attempted to sneak into the Italian island of Lampedusa.
The island of Lampedusa, the first stop usually chosen by illegal immigrants for their sea voyage toward Italy, is only about 80 km from the Tunisian coasts. ■