The Royal Air Force is already flying missions over Libya in preparation for a possible invitation by a Libyan government of national unity to help its army stabilise the country, including combating the growing threat of Islamic State (Isis), Tobias Ellwood, the foreign office minister, said on Tuesday.
Giving evidence to the foreign affairs select committee on the state of Libya, Ellwood stressed there was no possibility of UK troops going to Libya to fight Isis forces themselves, but that they may help with the training of the Libyan army if a government of national unity is formed. The forces would also help to train the Libyan patrol and facilities guard, responsible for protecting the vital oilfields. Some oil installations have been attacked by Isis.
Ellwood was pressed to disclose how many missions the RAF had flown, and whether they involved the use of drones, but he refused to do so.
He said the UK has no intention of getting involved in Libya in any kinetic form, but that “there are discussions being had to see what we can do to facilitate assistance once a government is actually formed to advise, assist, support and train. Just to confirm, no, we are not going in there to hold and take ground in any sense whatsoever.”
He said there was a distinction to be drawn between helping to defend and stabilise a government in Tripoli and any support that might be required to deal with Isis.
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