The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has deployed troops to provide training to counter illegal cross-border movement in Tunisia.
A short-term training team from the 4th Infantry Brigade will provide mobile patrolling and surveillance training to Tunisian forces responsible for preventing illegal migration from Libya.
The training provided by roughly 20 UK military personnel will include both classroom and practical exercises, which will enhance the Tunisian forces’ capability to ensure national security across the borders.
UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "With Daesh terrorists determined to target innocent civilians wherever they can, this training will help Tunisian forces to increase their border security. It underlines our commitment to peace and security in the region.
"UK personnel are training commanders in the 1st Tunisian Brigade, and the current deployment follows on from a previous tranche of border security training with the 1st Tunisian Brigade Headquarters at the end of last year."
The initial training enhanced 1st Tunisian Brigade border security, and strengthened the defence relationship between the UK and Tunisia.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) had acknowledged that the situation in Libya has worsened, with the smuggling of migrants and people trafficking from and through Libyan territory.
The UNSC recently decided to extended the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), which aims to resolve the country’s political crisis, until 15 March.
Image: Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has announced UK military personnel are providing training in Tunisia. Photo: Crown Copyright.
