Navy to send warship to Libyan coast in drive against arms smugglers supplying Isil fighters

A ROYAL Navy warship will be sent to the Libyan coast to intercept arms smugglers who are supplying Isil terrorists, the Foreign Secretary said.

Ministers agreed yesterday to expand an EU naval mission currently focused on rescuing migrants in vessels off the coast to counter-smuggling operations.

They also consented to train the Libya coastguard in carryng out rescue operations in territorial waters. This would lead to people on intercepted vessels being returned directly to Libyan territory, rather than being ferried to Italy, according to Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary.

The warship will be tasked with detecting suspect vessels, intercepting them and destroying their cargo.

The flow of arms is undermining the fragile Libyan government and bolstering the dozens of militias that have taken control of much of the country and are running the smuggling of migrants across the Mediterranean.

Mr Hammond said: “Getting control of illegal arms trafficking gives the international community a lever, because we can consider relaxations in the arms embargo to allow certain groups access to ammunition.”

The British deployment comes in addition to HMS Enterprise, a survey ves- sel, engaged in the search and rescue of migrants.

Critics of the migrant rescue mission say it acted as a draw for traffickers to send boats just a few miles out to sea, where their passengers could hope to be rescued and ferried to Italy.