Irish navy’s missions in the Mediterranean dependent on IS threat

The minister for defence has said he will not send the Naval Service back to the Mediterranean Sea if the threat to their humanitarian mission from Islamic State’s (IS) occupation of northern Libya proves too great.

Simon Coveney said he would be getting constant military assessments on the developing situation in North Africa until a decision is made on whether the Government will renew the Naval Service’s mission next spring.

It is being reported that British and American special forces have been sent into Libya to gather intelligence on the IS terrorist network which is said to have established a new headquarters in Sirte, on the county’s northern coast.