Tri-Service
'No Plans' To Send UK Troops To Libya
The government has insisted it does not plan to extend airstrikes or send UK troops to Libya.
That's despite a key Parliamentary committee being told it was likely on a recent visit to Egypt and Tunisia.
A government spokesperson said:
"What members of the Foreign Affairs Committee heard on their recent visit is wrong on a number of counts.
"There are no plans to extend airstrikes to Libya nor are there plans to send British troops to provide security on the ground in Libya.
"It is therefore also wrong to suggest the Defence Secretary will agree any UK contribution this week."
Crispin Blunt, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in a letter that his committee had been told a 1,000 strong British contingent would be part of an 6,000 troop international force.
In the letter Blunt said:
We heard that the GNA's likely first formal action will be to request that the UK and its allies conduct airstrikes against ISIL targets in Libya.
In the course of our meetings and discussions in North Africa, we also heard that the UK plans to contribute 1,000 ground troops to a 6,000-strong international force which will be deployed to Libya in the near future.
We heard that this force will have two objectives: first, it will train the Libyan Army; secondly, it will provide security for the Government of National Accord in Tripoli.
The government has disputed this but the BBC has reported there are plans to train Libyan troops once invited by country's unity government.
The Defence Select Committee, meanwhile, says it sought a briefing from the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, but added that it is satisfied that Britain is a "very long way" from the likelihood of any troop deployment to support an interim government in Tripoli.
It says Mr Fallon informed it that he is in discussions with allies on a whole range of options, but troop deployments would only be a possibility in the event of a stable government in Tripoli.
Currently, the city is controlled by over 40 different militias.
A Member of the committee, Richard Benyon MP, said,
"The committee are satisfied that no deployment is imminent, or likely. If this should change, any decision by the British Government will be subject to the full scrutiny of the Defence Committee and Parliament."
Photo: Magharebia
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