UN support of Libyan government set to open door for potential UK airstrikes
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Version 0 of 1. The prospect of UK planes attacking Islamic State positions in Libya as part of an international coalition force will draw closer when the U N security council is expected to approve a resolution supporting the new Libyan government. The UK-sponsored resolution is primarily intended to endorse the new regime, but it is also a first step towards potential military action, opening the way for the Libyan government to invite foreign countries to help tackle the spread of Isis. UK parliamentary approval for airstrikes would not be required as the government would be acting at the invitation of the Libyan government unlike in Syria, whereBashar al-Assad did not back UK military strikes. Britain is ready to send up to 1,000 troops as part of an Italian-led coalition to help train the Libyan army. A small UK team is to be sent shortly to scope out the feasibility of the mission. But the RAF could be in action much sooner. Libya’s ambassador to the UN, Ibrahim al-Dabashi, told the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that he expected airstrikes soon, without specifying a date. When asked about countries preparing for the airstrikes, al-Dabashi replied: “United States, Britain, France, and Italy”. Related: Warplanes in Libyan skies may signal next major battle in fight to contain Islamic State He said that UN resolution 2214 offered clear authorisation for military action. “[It] asks all countries to fight terrorism in Libya, which represents a clear-cut authorisation only requiring of different countries to inform the government in Libya in advance, and coordinate with it,” he said. The new government is set to take power in January after a fragile UN-brokered accord was reached earlier this month. Discussions are still under way in Libya to try to secure broad support for the government. The UK will consider requests for technical and specialist military support but there will be no contribution of combat troops and the government is not currently considering airstrikes, a senior Foreign Office source said. The MoD referred to a statement issued last week saying the UK, along with international partners, is supporting the process to form a recognised Libyan government and plans were being developed for the aftermath. It added that no decisions had been made about future deployments of any British military forces to Libya as part of an international coalition force. The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, phoned Fayyez al-Sarraj, who is being lined up to be Libyan prime minister, to offer an assurance that France will be “at the side of the Libyan people to overcome the challenges confronting the country, starting with the securing of the capital, the return of stability and the fight against terrorism”. |