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.

IS is believed to control around 200km of the Libyan coastline — the area from which people smugglers are launching boatloads of refugees.

It is not clear if IS has been involved in people-smuggling shipments to date, but fears have been expressed in some quarters that the terrorists may turn to the lucrative trade as their cash supply dwindles from their oil fields which are being targeted by American, French, and British aircraft.

Latest reports from the Anglo-American intelligence services suggest that IS has moved its headquarters out of Syria as allied bombing intensifies and has up to 2,000 terrorists fighters in North Libya.

IS is also said to have set up camps in the region, where it is training children as young as 14.

It is also being alleged that Abu Ali al-Anabari, one of IS’s most senior leaders, has moved to Sirte to take command of operations there.

While LÉ Samuel Backett has finished her patrol off the Libyan coast, Mr Coveney said he is hoping to renew the mission when the weather improves in the spring.

However, he said the Government “wouldn’t be foolhardy either” if the IS threat proved too great. “We will do the usual threat assessments [before deciding to send ships back]. Obviously we will take any warnings on issues raised very seriously,” he said.

He added this was normal procedure and happens on an ongoing basis in other areas where Irish troops are serving such as Mali and Lebanon.

He said he still hoped to send ships back out to the Mediterranean Sea because they have saved thousands of lives this year.

“We have vulnerable people [migrants] out there who are being put on unseaworthy vessels. If we had not been out there many lives would have been lost.”

LÉ Eithne, LÉ Niamh, and LÉ Samuel Beckett rescued 8,631 migrants and recovered the bodies of a further 39 who drowned when the vessels they were on sank.

“I would be surprised if we are not sending out ships in February or March. But there are ongoing threat assessments,” Mr Coveney said.

He said further intelligence on the situation could be garnered when the crew of LÉ Samuel Beckett are debriefed on their return.