Ninety British soldiers were involved in the Nato operation in Libya, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has revealed.
The troops were among 1,200 UK service personnel sent abroad as part of Operation Ellamy, the Ministry of Defence’s codename for the Libya conflict.
Previously, ministers claimed “a handful” of British Army officers would be sent to “advise” rebel commanders plotting the overthrow of Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed last week.
Mr Hammond revealed the latest figures in a written Parliamentary answer to Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn.
The Defence Secretary said 350 Royal Navy seamen and 700 RAF airmen were sent overseas as part of Ellamy.
Officially, the British contribution to enforcing United Nations Security Council resolution 1973 has involved bombing raids on military targets, and firing missiles from ships and submarines off the Libyan coast, as well as advising rebel leaders.
Mr Hammond said the numbers had been rounded to the nearest 10, adding: “The number of personnel overseas fluctuates on a daily basis for a variety of reasons including temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces and visits.”
