| The Guardian | - |
The
19-page strategy paper for the mission, obtained by the Guardian,
focuses on an air and naval campaign in the Mediterranean and in Libyan territorial waters, subject to United Nations blessing. But it adds that ground operations in Libya may also ...
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British troops could be deployed on the ground in Libya against people smugglers responsible for flow of migrants to Europe
- Leaked EU papers reveal plans for air and navy blitz on people smugglers
- Ground troops may also be needed to destroy smugglers boats and assets
- Officials declined to say what role Britain would play in operation in Libya
- UK already has HMS Bulwark in the region carrying out rescue missions
British ground troops could be deployed in Libya in a huge military offensive to stop the flow of migrants headed for Europe.
Leaked
EU papers yesterday revealed plans for an air and naval blitz on the
people smuggling networks who are responsible for putting migrants on
boats making perilous journeys across the Med.
But
the document also suggests that ground operations might be needed to
destroy the smugglers’ vessels and assets, such as fuel dumps.
Scroll down for video
A landing craft docking into HMS
Bulwark after rescuing nearly 450 migrants from four inflatable boat
around 40 miles off the coast of Libya
Royal Marines helped the migrants to safety after spotting the vessels in distress in the Med
The papers say: ‘ The operation would require a broad range of air, maritime and land capabilities.
‘These
could include: intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; boarding
teams; patrol units (air and maritime); amphibious assets; destruction
air, land and sea, including special forces units.’
Last
night officials declined to specify what role Britain would play in the
operation, which is due to be debated by EU ministers on Monday.
But the reference to special forces will lead to speculation of possible SAS involvement on the ground.
Britain
– which already has HMS Bulwark in the region, carrying out rescue
missions – could also play a role in any Naval strikes against the
smugglers.
Home
Secretary Theresa May has said the EU must use the ‘military,
intelligence and crime-fighting assets’ at its disposal to crush the
gangs.
Whitehall
sources said that while plans send UK troops are being ‘scoped’,
ministers and the Foreign Office have not agreed upon anything.
They said any decision to send in troops would be ‘phased in’.
The move would be a dramatic confirmation of just how sharply conditions have deteriorated in Libya.
David
Cameron visited Tripoli and Benghazi with the then French president,
Nicholas Sarkozy, in September 2011 in the wake of Colonel Gaddafi’s
fall - receiving a hero’s welcome after a British-enforced no-fly zone
helped to topple the dictator.
Since
then, the country has descended into turmoil with migrants pouring into
the country from across Africa to attempt to make the journey to Europe
by boat.
The migrants rescued by the landing craft from HMS Bulwark, included pregnant women and children
The
19-page strategy paper for the mission, obtained by the Guardian
newspaper (MUST), focuses on an air and naval campaign in the Med and in
Libyan territorial waters.
But it adds: ‘A presence ashore might be envisaged if agreement was reached with relevant authorities’.
The paper also speaks of possible operations to destroy smugglers’ assets ‘ashore’.
This could include ‘action along the coast, in harbour or at anchor of smugglers assets and vessels before their use’.
The
document - which will require UN approval, as well as the support of EU
foreign ministers – says that seizing and destroying vessels on the
high seas or in international waters in the Med would be permitted.
But it concedes there is a danger of innocent people being killed.
It
says: ‘Boarding operations against smugglers in the presence of
migrants has a high risk of collateral damage including the loss of
life.’
Defence Secretary
Michael Fallon said that Bulwark was an ‘invaluable asset’ in
responding to the growing problem of migrants trying to get to the West
The
news came as HMS Bulwark rescued more than 445 migrants including
pregnant women and children, from four rubber boats in the Med.
Bulwark was alerted to a distress call at about 4.30am yesterday from a co-ordination centre in Rome.
The ship headed to two 30ft inflatable boats that had set off from Libya, holding hundreds.
The rescued passengers were expected to stay on the ship overnight before disembarking in Sicily today.
Defence
Secretary Michael Fallon said that Bulwark was an ‘invaluable asset’ in
helping to respond to a growing problem of migrants desperate to reach
the West, risking their lives on rickety vessels.
Landing
crafts launched from Bulwark helped to rescue more than 100 migrants
last week. 2,000 people are estimated to have died already this year.
A
Government spokesman said: ‘Discussions remain ongoing in the EU on the
proposed Common Security and Defence Policy operation alongside
parallel discussions at the UN Security Council.
‘We are considering how best to support the proposals to counter the smuggling networks but the details remain under discussion.
‘The UK has no plans to send combat troops to Libya.’
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