United Kingdom
Related: About this forumBritain to send aircraft to Mali to assist French fight against rebels
Britain announced on Saturday night that it was deploying aircraft to assist French military operations against Islamist rebels in Mali as an escalation in hostilities was claimed to have killed more than 120 people.
David Cameron's offer to transport foreign troops and equipment involved Britain in a fresh conflict that could provoke terrorist reprisals against European targets. President François Hollande yesterday placed France on high alert as French planes bombarded targets in Mali.
Downing Street said two transport planes would be dispatched, but British troops would not join the French military mission to recapture the north of Mali from al-Qaida-linked rebels acting against the country's government.
"The prime minister spoke to President Hollande this evening to discuss the deteriorating situation in Mali and how the UK can support French military assistance provided to the Malian government to contain rebel and extremist groups in the north of the country," a spokeswoman said. "Both leaders agreed that the situation in Mali poses a real threat to international security given terrorist activity there."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/12/mali-somalia-france-rebels-islamist-francois-hollande
GP6971
(31,168 posts)wonder how behind we are in the support ......at least publicly.
Jeneral2885
(1,354 posts)I thought France is equally in debt as the UK or so. Yet they bother with a military force in Mali?
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)An RAF C-17 cargo plane is set to leave the UK on Sunday to help French efforts to contain rebels in Mali, Ministry of Defence sources say.
The first of two planes will leave RAF Brize Norton later and load up with troops and equipment in Paris before flying to Mali on Monday.
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Downing Street said no UK troops would be deployed in a combat role.
The Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, indicated British personnel could play a role in training the Malian army through the European Union.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21004040