HERE we go again.

This week the Foreign Secretary told the Commons that we are contemplating sending troops to Libya.

The number was not specified, but it’s rumoured to be up to 1,000.

Mr Hammond assured MPs that they’d only be used for “training and technical support” and, then, only if requested by Prime Minister Fayez Serraj.

He went on to say that, were this to change to a combat role, there’d be a full Commons debate and vote before they were committed.

Mr Hammond observed that there was “no appetite” for boots on the ground, and I believe he’s right.

But my concern is that we are being softened up for deployment into what is a cauldron of hate.

Libya is an extremely dangerous and unstable state, riven with various political and religious factions of the worst kind.

Most notable are ISIS jihadists, or Da’esh, who’ve fled intensive, coalition bombing in Iraq and Syria for new bases around Sirte on the Libyan coast.

The CIA estimates their numbers at between 4,000 and 6,000.

They pose not only an existential threat to the fledgling, Libyan government, but they’ve also sworn to export terrorism to Europe, hiding amongst migrants.

So the threat is very real, but if we are to commit any forces, they must be part of a larger, NATO-backed coalition.

To go it alone would not be advisable.

US President Barack Obama admitted the “worst mistake” of his presidency was the failure to plan for the aftermath of Colonel Gaddafi’s ousting.

He’s also pointed that finger at us, and very publicly.

Caution is required now and any effort must be concerted and carefully thought through.