19/2016
British troops may be deployed to war-torn Libya without parliamentary approval, Philip Hammond said yesterday.
The Foreign Secretary said 1,000 troops could be sent to Libya as part of an Italian led 6,000 strong deployment.
There
was no need for a vote by MPs as the troops would be in a non-combat
role, he insisted during an unannounced visit to capital Tripoli.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond
(left) meets Fayez-al-Sarraj (right), the new prime minister of the new
national unity government of Libya
The
news comes after Philip Hammond made an unannounced visit to Libya
yesterday as officials drew up plans to send up to 1,000 troops to help
fight ISIS in the war-ravaged country.
His
visit - designed to shore up support for Libya's new UN-backed national
unity government - paves the way for fresh British military
intervention just five years after UK air strikes helped oust Libyan
dictator Colonel Gaddafi.
The
north African country has been reigned by chaos since the 'Arab Spring'
in 2011, opening up a vacuum for militias to exploit, with ISIS seizing a
long stretch of coastline along the Mediterranean.
As
UK defence chiefs step up plans to support Libya's under-threat unity
government, Air Vice Marshal Edward Stringer will fly to Rome to tell
commanders the UK could deploy up to 1,000 troops to support a 6,000
strong, Italian-led force in the country.
They
could be deployed on the ground to protect key buildings, such as
hospitals, banks and even the port, although officials insisted they
would not be in a combat role.
A
defence source said: 'It is not clear yet whether this would be behind
the wire or not'. This means they could be deployed to hostile areas.
He said they had 'not ruled out' the option of putting troops in the cities in a security-protection role.
Today
Mr Hammond met Fayez al Sarraj, the prime minister of the new
nine-strong Government of National Accord (GNA) administration that is
seeking to unite Libya after years of civil war.
Mr
Hammond's visit was not made public until he arrived for security
reasons. He met Mr al Sarraj in the heavily protected naval base in
Tripoli, Libya's capital.
His
visit follows similar visits by Italian, French and German foreign
ministers, while the British ambassador returned to the city for the
first time since most foreign embassies pulled out in 2014 as it was
considered too dangerous to remain.
Mr Hammond today committed £10million in further assistance to the struggling GNA, which was only established last month.
The
additional money includes £1.8million for counter-terrorism and
£1.5million for combating the people traffickers smuggling migrants
across the Mediterranean into Europe via Libya.
Speaking
during his visit this morning, Mr Hammond said: 'Britain and its allies
fully support Prime Minister Fayez Serraj and his government as they
restore peace and stability to the whole of Libya. We stand ready to
provide further assistance to Libya and its people,' he said.
'Britain
is at the forefront of the international community's efforts to
stabilise Libya and is committing an extra £10 million to help the
government of national accord strengthen political institutions, the
economy, security, and justice.
'This fund builds on our existing support to Libya of £12 million last year for development and humanitarian assistance.
'I
welcome the continued efforts of Prime Minister Fayez Serraj and
members of the presidency council to make progress on security,
rebuilding the economy and restoring public services for the benefit of
all Libyans.'
Philip Hammond (pictured) today
committed £10million in further assistance to the struggling GNA, which
was only established last month
Air Vice Marshal Edward Stringer will
fly to Rome to tell commanders the UK could deploy up to 1,000 troops to
the war-ravaged country to help defeat Islamic State (IS)
Around
100 British special forces troops are already in Libya helping to
protect its current leadership and advising local forces on fighting the
increasing IS presence in the country.
But
there have been growing signs in recent weeks that Nato is gearing up
for a much larger intervention in Libya. British and American
intelligence offivers are reportedly giving tribal leaders 'suitcases of
cash' to stop them opposing an international ground force.
The
upcoming meeting in Rome comes as Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and
Mr Hammond travel to Luxembourg today today to discuss 'beefing up'
Europe's military response to the migrant crisis.
Speaking
ahead of tonight's meeting, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said this
afternoon that it was 'too early' to say what form the military
assistance would take.
The meeting of foreign and defence ministers will include a video conference with Mr Sarraj.
But
there have been growing signs in recent weeks that Nato is gearing up
for a much larger intervention in Libya. British and American
intelligence offivers are reportedly giving tribal leaders 'suitcases of
cash' to stop them opposing an international ground force.
The
upcoming meeting in Rome comes as Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond travel to Luxembourg today today to
discuss 'beefing up' Europe's military response to the migrant crisis.
They
will discuss increasing Europe's naval presence off the Libyan coast as
part of Operation Sophia - against people smugglers - and are also
expected to discuss sending security units to Tripoli.
Rescuers help people in the sea after a
boat carrying some dozens migrants crashed into rocks as they tried to
enter the Italian port of Pantelleria
Other
missions in the works include bombing Islamic State fighters, training
Libyan troops, combating people smugglers and disarming militias - all
of which could include British forces.
Last
night Crispin Blunt, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee,
said the deployment of UK troops without any clear plan would 'almost
certainly make things worse'.
He
said: 'The idea that you could put a training force of that size in the
country and it would not be seen as Western intervention is the view of
someone living on cloud cuckoo land.
'We would find ourselves a target for those who wish the West ill.
'Unless
there is a clear policy objective explaining how troops would deliver
the desired outcome, it will almost certainly make things worse.'
Under
current plans, they would be part of an Italian-led force of 6,000
soldiers that would help to restore peace in Libya, which has descended
into chaos since the European-led overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi.
A
UN-brokered ceasefire has allowed the formation of a 'unity' government
intended to replace the two warring administrations - one in Tripoli
and the other in Tobruk - that have arisen in the last few years.
Fresh
intervention would be highly controversial given the criticism that has
been made of European leaders, including David Cameron, for failing to
plan for post-war reconstruction in Libya after 2011.
Around 100 British special forces
troops are already in Libya helping to protect its current leadership
and advising local forces on fighting the increasing IS presence in the
country
Air Vice Marshal Stringer was due to
meet with his Italian and French counterparts this coming Thursday at a
so-called 'force sensing conference' where they will cover topics such
as Libya and ISIS
President
Barack Obama described the European action as a 's*** show', and said
his own failure to get more involved has been the biggest regret of his
term in office.
Foreign
Secretary Philip Hammond said there are no immediate plans underway to
send UK forces to the country, but MP Crispin Blunt said this is
'nonsense'.
He added that the government is being 'less than candid' about its plans.
Air
Vice Marshal Stringer was due to meet with his Italian and French
counterparts this coming Thursday at a so-called 'force sensing
conference' where they will cover topics such as Libya.
Last night the meeting had to be cancelled due to a diary clash, but will be rescheduled.
The official offer of assistance - likely to be around 1,000 British troops - will not be made until a later meeting.
EU
countries are waiting for Libya's unity government to make a request
for help before any western troops are sent to help stem the flow of
migrants and bolster security in the region.
Currently
Britain has one ship, HMS Richmond, in the Mediterranean Sea trying to
stop the smuggling gangs profiting from the migrant crisis in Libya.
But
EU countries are under pressure to do more to stop the flow of migrants
to Europe amid warnings another 800,000 people are waiting to catch a
boat to Italy.
Currently Britain has one ship, HMS
Richmond, in the Mediterranean Sea trying to stop the smuggling gangs
profiting from the migrant crisis in Libya
EU countries are under pressure to do
more to stop the flow of migrants to Europe amid warnings another
800,000 people are waiting to catch a boat to Italy
An
MOD spokesperson said: 'The UK continues to work with international
partners on how best to support the new Libyan government.
'All
planning has been focussed on training Libyan Security Forces to
provide their own security to the Government and Libyan people.
'No decisions have been made about the future deployment of any British military forces.'
They
could be deployed on the ground to protect key buildings, such as
hospitals, banks and even the port, although officials insisted they
would not be in a combat role.
A
defence source said: 'It is not clear yet whether this would be behind
the wire or not'. This means they could be deployed to hostile areas.
He said they had 'not ruled out' the option of putting troops in the cities in a security-protection role.
Around
100 British special forces troops are already in Libya helping to
protect its current leadership and advising local forces on fighting the
increasing IS presence in the country.
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