UK Can’t Rule out Deploying Troops in Libya
Local Editor
British ground troops, supported by the Air Force and Navy, may go to Libya to take action against Deash [the Arabic acronym for "ISIS"/ "ISIL" terrorist group ]in the future, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said, just days after telling MPs that no such plans were in the works.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond made his remarks in a Telegraph interview on Sunday. ""ISIS" are seeking to turn Libya into a "bolthole" for launching attacks on mainland Europe or Western ships at sea, Hammond argued.
"It wouldn't make sense to rule anything out because you never know how things are going to evolve," Hammond told The Telegraph. "But if there were ever any question of a British combat role in any form - ground, sea or air - that would go to the House of Commons."
The Foreign Secretary warned that there is a possibility that Daesh could send terrorists across the Mediterranean to Italy in order to mount attacks, adding that British cruise liners and commercial ships have already been warned to avoid the coast off the Libyan city of Sirte.
"The southern Mediterranean coast is a vital security interest. Clearly, internationally-focused terrorists, established on the Mediterranean coast, are a threat to all the countries of Europe, including the UK."
Asked whether terrorists could cross the Mediterranean in boats to reach Europe, he said: "It is only 100 miles from Libya to Lampedusa [the southernmost island of Italy]. I think it is a threat. If Daesh became established in Libya and sought to use that established base to infiltrate terrorists into Europe...that would be a threat to all of us."
Hammond said that it is "extremely unlikely" that the new Tripoli-based Libyan government under Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj will request Western forces to provide combat support or even train its troops in foreseeable future, but, again, he did not rule it out.
"Our first duty - all of us - is to protect our citizens," he stressed.
Britain would also be ready to consider sending combat jets to conduct air strikes in support of an assault on the Daseh in Sirte.
"If naval or air support was requested for such an action, we would obviously look at it," the British FM said.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
