Weapons smuggling

UK considers basing military teams in Libya to stop arms smuggling

British defence officials are considering basing military trainers in Libya and sending another warship to the Mediterranean after the EU agreed to boost an anti-people smuggling operation and enforce a UN arms embargo.

The EU said on Monday it would extend Operation Sophia's mandate by one year to July 2017, and improve its capacity as per a UN resolution, as the EU tries to control the flow of weapons into Libya and refugees heading to Europe from its shores.

Sophia currently comprises five vessels and three helicopters charged with intercepting smugglers' boats and destroying them in international waters. 

It comes after the British Prime Minister David Cameron said last month that the UK would "take an active leadership role in that process".

A spokesman for Britain's Ministry of Defence told Middle East Eye on Monday the UK was considering stationing military personal in Libyan ports to train the Libyan coastguard, as well as basing another Royal Navy warship off its coast.