Three Killed In Fire And Explosion At Libyan Naval Academy
The head of the naval academy and the officer who ran the naval college were among those to be killed.
The head of the naval academy and the officer who ran the naval college were among those to be killed.
The helicopter was assisting Operation Barkhane, the French counter-insurgency operation in the West African Sahel region.
There are plans to train five more companies of around 600 troops in 2021.
The troops were taking part in an intelligence mission in the country’s north east.
The 30-strong unit helped to share a range of soldiering skills that can be used to track and combat poachers.
It is hoped the extra cash given to the Ministry of Defence could allow the UK to increase its international peacekeeping role.
The soldiers previously completed integration training in July and are set to deploy to the African nation in December.
Recent months have seen a drastic increase in COVID-19 cases nationwide and continued conflict.
The UK already has RAF helicopters and personnel in the country, with hundreds of soldiers preparing to deploy on a separate mission there.
Officials say at least eight personnel were killed in the Mogadishu suicide blast.
Royal Air Force personnel and Chinook helicopters have been working alongside French forces in Mali since 2018.
Experts have highlighted lessons from 2013's crisis response, which saw American and European military deployments.
Troops from the Light Dragoons and 2 Royal Anglian are deploying to the West African country on a UN mission in December.
A House of Lords committee found the Government needs to match efforts in Mali throughout the continent.
The Ministry of Defence has reaffirmed its intention to send personnel to Mali, after a deployment of troops was delayed due to coronavirus.
RAF Chinooks and personnel will remain in Mali to support the French-led counter-terrorism operation.