Aerial maritime operation launched in March 2015 by Italy’s Ministry of Defense, to “ensure maritime presence, surveillance and safety in the central Mediterranean and the Strait of Sicily”. Since 2017, Italy extended the operation into Libyan territorial waters “in order to be able to carry out support activities for the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy in the fight against illegal maritime trafficking, if requested by the Libyan counterpart.”
Source: http://www.marina.difesa.it/cosa-facciamo/operazioni-in-corso/Pagine/MareSicuro.aspx