RAF 'piloted US drones over Libya'

27 July 2012

Royal Air Force pilots operated American drone aircraft over Libya during enforcement action for last year's UN-approved no-fly zone, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

The government's House of Lords defence spokesman Lord Astor of Hever first revealed the information following a question in the House on 24 July.

"Her Majesty's Government do not use armed remotely piloted air systems against terrorist suspects outside Afghanistan," said Lord Astor. "However, UK personnel flew armed remotely piloted air systems missions against Gaddafi's forces in Libya in 2011, in support of the NATO humanitarian mission authorised under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

US drones carried out 145 air strikes over Libya between April and October 2011, according to official figures, although it is not known how many of these were conducted by British pilots.

While US drone use over Libya had been widely reported, the MoD has maintained that no UK drones were involved in Libya or have been used outside Afghanistan. While the operation of American drones by British pilots does not negate earlier statements, it has not previously been revealed.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "There were no and are no UK remotely piloted air systems operating outside of Afghanistan. The UK armed forces routinely embed UK personnel within allied nation units (and vice versa) via exchange programmes.

"As confirmed by Lord Astor, UK personnel embedded within a US unit flew armed remotely piloted air systems missions against Gaddafi's forces in Libya in 2011."