Wikileaks reveal EU okayed plan to use warships to tackle refugee crisis

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Latest Wikileaks releases reveal incriminating evidence of European Union\'s role in planning a military intervention to tackle the ongoing refugee crisis.

Document stresses on collaborating with other national groups and agencies including UN and Nato

Libyan press has reported that US, UK and French special forces have already arrived, Wikileaks reports

European Union's Foreign Affairs Council unanimously cleared a plan -- Operation Sophia -- that involved the use of EU warships and surveillance aircraft to stop the smuggling of migrants fleeing the conflict zone.

Military action against refugees

In a rather ruthless approach to the ongoing migrant crisis, the EU documents recommend "possible CSDP military operation" as an important contribution to "the European efforts to disrupt human smuggling networks". The military initiatives are termed as an "essential part of a broader, comprehensive EU approach" and the purpose is outlined as "a rapid response to the migratory crisis in the Southern Central Mediterranean".

The document, referred to as 'Crisis Management Concept', also highlights that the "overall aim of the European Council of 23 April is to prevent further loss of life at sea".

"Libyan press has reported that US, UK, and French special forces have already arrived," Wikileaks informs, even though there is no official confirmation on this.

The document also makes a mention of UN efforts. "It welcomes efforts underway in the UN Security Council (UNSC) to obtain a Chapter VII mandate for the possible operation, based on a Libyan request," it reads.

It lays stress on collaborating with other agencies for "information exchange and coordination of the use of military assets where appropriate, with partners including the UN, NATO, AU, Arab League."

"Sustainable success of the operation will heavily depend on the implementation of a genuine comprehensive approach," it reads.

The plan is laid out in three phases and is directed towards addressing the smugglers. And while several references are made to rescue migrants, one documents forbid publicising such operations "in order to avoid providing an incentive to migrants".

European nations have been known to take steps to address the flow of asylum seekers to their countries, from ads by Denmark in Lebanese newspapers to Germany's campaign across Kabul to dissuade Afghan migrants.

These documents present insights into the changing approach of host nations towards asylum seekers from conflict zones at a time when the world is witness to one of the largest migrant crisis since the World Wars.