British Special Force troops operate in Libya to block IS regrouping, combat human traffickers

BY Libyan Express Aug 07, 2017 - 10:12

Fighters of Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government gather as they advance against Islamic State holdouts in Ghiza Bahriya district in Sirte, Libya December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny

80 members of the Special Boat Service, supported by 40 British specialists, have been deployed with US, French and Italian forces in a top-secret operation to deny IS any opportunity to establish a base in Libya, Daily News reported on Sunday.

According to the Daily News report, the force is also targeting smuggling cartels and pressing the Libyan forces to take stronger action against people traffickers by destroying boats.

IS fighters from Libya are thought to be sneaking into Europe by infiltrating a scheme designed to help wounded Libyan soldiers receive hospital treatment in Italy, the Daily News added.

The British forces include drone specialists who can monitor open deserts and an electronic warfare team to harvest communication ‘chatter’ from mobile phones, according to the report.

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