Lebanon rescued more than 50 people, mostly Syrians, from a sinking migrant boat off the country’s north coast, the army said according to AFP.

The military obtained “information about a vessel that was sinking off the coast of Tripoli while it was being used for illegal people smuggling”, the army said in a statement, referring to a city in north Lebanon.

Naval forces were able to “rescue 51 people aboard, including two Palestinians and 49 Syrians”, the statement added.

The Lebanese Red Cross helped provide assistance to those rescued, according to the statement, which did not specify where the boat was headed.

Lebanese nationals have been making the treacherous voyage towards Europe alongside Syrians fleeing war and economic woes in their country, as well as Palestinian refugees.