Migrant crisis: UK set to send second warship to Libya
David Cameron told the G7 summit in Japan that the UK was ready to take an "active leadership role" in helping Libya deal with trafficking, writes the BBC http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36394597.
According to the source, the UK currently has one survey vessel, HMS Enterprise, operating in the area.
For the UK to send another warship, the EU will need to extend the mandate of its current naval operation.
UK officials at this week's meeting of G7 industrialised nations said they would seek UN approval so that the new warship could also seize boats suspected of smuggling arms to fighters of so-called Islamic State in Libya.
According to the source, UK will seek the extension of the EU's Operation Sophia mission to tackle people-trafficking in the central Mediterranean, as well as a Security Council resolution at the UN enabling its forces to assist in the interception of arms shipments.
This would move the UK another step closer to direct military involvement in the Libyan conflict, BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale says.