British PM Denies Ground Troops in Misrata

SAS Troops Believed to Be Used to Spot Targets for Air Strikes

by Jason Ditz, June 01, 2011

British Prime Minister David Cameron’s office today denied growing reports that British soldiers are on the ground in the Libyan city of Misrata, saying that all their actions were “in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1973.”

Cameron’s spokesman insisted the denial was not in any way related to photographs taking inside Misrata by media outlets which clearly showed Western troops in the city, working with rebel forces. The UN resolution explicitly forbids the use of ground troops in Libya.

The denial may be an attempt to create a distinction without a difference, however, as British newspaper The Guardian says it has confirmed that former members of the British SAS are indeed on the ground in Misrata, but operating as “private security firm employees.”

The troops are said to be operating as spotters, finding targets for NATO’s warplanes to bomb. They pass the details of targets through the Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard in Naples before they are attacked.

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