Nato uses attack helicopters in Libya

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Recent footage showed Apache helicopters on HMS Ocean being readied for missions

UK Apache attack helicopters have been used over Libya for the first time, Nato has confirmed.

They attacked and destroyed two military installations, a radar site and an armed checkpoint near Brega, the Captain of HMS Ocean told the BBC.

The Apaches are understood to have faced incoming fire.

French Gazelle helicopters also took part in simultaneous attacks on different targets in Libya for the first time.

On Wednesday, Nato extended its mission in Libya by 90 days.

The former head of the Army, Lord Dannatt, said: “It’s an intensification, and it’s an inevitable intensification. If you pick up the words from when President Obama was visiting, what we’ve heard the prime minister say, we don’t want to let this thing linger on any more than we absolutely have to.

“The mission under UNHCR 1973 is quite clear, it’s to protect people but of course the implied task, and let’s be absolutely open and honest about it, is the removal of Colonel Gaddafi.”

The BBC’s defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said: “The Captain of the HMS Ocean reported that those targets had been successfully destroyed and both Apaches returned to their base on HMS Ocean.”

“This successful engagement demonstrates the unique capabilities brought to bear by attack helicopters,” said Lt Gen Charles Bouchard, Commander of Operation Unified Protector.

“We will continue to use these assets whenever and wherever needed, using the same precision as we do in all of our missions.”

A Ministry of Defence statement said: “UK Apache Attack Helicopters have taken part in coordinated operations over Libya as part of Nato’s Operation Unified Protector to protect civilians under UNSCR 1973. All of the aircraft recovered safely to HMS Ocean. Further details of the operation will be released in due course.”

Missile risk

The decision to send four British Apache helicopters to Libya was made by Prime Minister David Cameron on 27 May.

Their deployment via HMS Ocean means there should be less chance of civilian casualties in operations that previously relied on the use of Tornado and Typhoon aircraft.

But the Apaches operate at lower altitudes and could be targeted by Libyan forces loyal to Col Gaddafi, which still have access to thousands of surface-to-air missiles.

Labour MP Graham Allen claimed the introduction of Apaches was “mission creep” and said there needed to be a fresh debate in the House of Commons on Libya.

“The way out of this mess is not to keep cranking up the military hardware and having so-called ‘implied tasks’ added on against the express view of the House of Commons; what we need to do is figure out how we can get a political solution that will last for several generations in Libya rather than this adventure which has no prospect of coming to a close,” he said.

Nato intervened in Libya after the UN passed a resolution for the protection of civilians, amid a two-month revolt inspired by other uprisings in the Arab world.

It has intensified raids in recent weeks with attacks on command-and-control structures in the capital Tripoli.

The intervention was initially led by France, Britain and the US until 31 March – when Nato took over. It was given an initial 90 days, which would have run out on 27 June.

On Wednesday, UN investigators accused government forces in Libya of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Rights experts said they had found evidence of crimes including murder and torture, in a pattern suggesting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was behind them.

The UN mission also said opposition forces were guilty of abuses that would constitute war crimes, although they were not so numerous.