The Royal Navy is preparing to rescue British nationals from Libya, Sky News understands.
HMS Enterprise is being moved into position off the coast of North Africa ready to be given the order to sail into Tripoli on Sunday morning.
She will moor offshore and her survey boat, Spitfire, will collect people from the Port of Tripoli.
A detachment armed personnel, usually Royal Marines, will provide force protection to the ship in event of attack.
The routine follows a similar scenario in 2011 during the uprising when HMS Cumberland, a Type 22 Frigate, evacuated foreign nationals and refuges from the civil war.
Although the United States used F16 fighter jets for air cover when their citizens left Libya by road for Tunisia last week, it is not thought any British aircraft will be involved in this mission.
Britain is one of the last countries to wind down its diplomatic mission in Libya following a severe deterioration in the security situation as rebel groups continue fighting each other.
France and America, two of the other principle players in the 2011 war, closed their embassies last week.
The Ministry of Defence said: “As the Foreign Office has made clear, the UK Government will provide assisted departure for a number of UK nationals before suspending consular operations on Monday.
“For operational reasons we will not discuss further details including whether, and in what ways, the MoD could support these efforts.”
Source Article from https://uk.news.yahoo.com/royal-navy-rescue-britons-libya-182740536.html
Royal Navy 'To Rescue Britons From Libya'
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