UK to Send Troops to Tunisian-Libyan Border, Help Stop ’ISIS’

Local Editor

The British defense minister said that the United Kingdom is to send troops to Tunisia to help prevent "ISIS" fighters from moving into the country from Libya.

"A training team of some 20 troops from the 4th Infantry Brigade is now moving to Tunisia to help counter illegal cross-border movement from Libya in support of the Tunisian authorities," Michael Fallon told Parliament Monday.

Meanwhile, the move came after growing Western concern that "ISIS" is seeking to use Libya as a base to plan and carry out attacks. Last June, 30 British holidaymakers were killed when an extremist gunman attacked a beach at a hotel on Tunisia's Mediterranean coast.

In the context, Fallon expressed his deep concern "about the proliferation of "ISIS" along the Libyan coastline, which is why we have been urgently assisting the formation of a new Libyan government."

In parallel, extremist groups had taken advantage of political chaos to expand their presence in Libya, and fighters loyal to "ISIS" had taken control of the coastal city of Sirte.

In addition, Fallon said Britain was not currently planning to deploy ground troops to Libya in a combat role.

"Before taking any military action in Libya, we would seek an invitation from the new Libyan Government," he said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team