British troops could be deployed in Libya in a military offensive to stop the flow of migrants headed for Europe.

Leaked EU papers yesterday revealed plans for an air and naval blitz on the people-smuggling networks responsible for putting migrants on boats making perilous journeys across the Mediterranean.

But the document also suggests ground operations might be needed to destroy the smugglers’ vessels and assets, such as fuel dumps.

Scroll down for video

Royal Marines helped the migrants to safety after spotting the vessels in distress in the Med

The papers say: ‘The operation would require a broad range of air, maritime and land capabilities. These could include: intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; boarding teams; patrol units (air and maritime); amphibious assets; destruction air, land and sea, including Special Forces units.’

Last night officials declined to specify what role Britain would play in the operation, which is due to be debated by EU ministers on Monday. But the reference to Special Forces will lead to speculation of SAS involvement on the ground.

It is unclear who would be in charge of a military operation but the most likely candidate is the United Nations.

Britain – which has HMS Bulwark in the region, carrying out rescue missions – could also play a role in any naval strikes against the smugglers.

Home Secretary Theresa May has said that Europe must use the ‘military, intelligence and crime-fighting assets’ at its disposal to crush the gangs.

Putting troops on the ground in Libya would be complex and hugely dangerous given the state of near anarchy in the country.

Last year, the Western-backed Government was expelled from the capital, Tripoli, by militia groups and is now based in the port city of Tobruk. Militants – including groups linked to Islamic State – have seized control of large swathes of territory. Much of the city of Benghazi has been reduced to rubble.

There have also been a spate of attacks on diplomats, including the killing of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens in Benghazi and the kidnapping of Jordanian ambassador Fawaz al-Itan, who was released in exchange for a jihadi jailed in Jordan.

British teacher David Bolam was taken hostage in Benghazi in May 2014. He was released five months later.

The EU move would be a dramatic confirmation of just how sharply conditions have deteriorated in Libya. David Cameron visited Tripoli and Benghazi with the then French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, in September 2011 in the wake of Colonel Gaddafi’s fall – receiving a hero’s welcome after a British-enforced no-fly zone helped to topple the dictator.

The migrants rescued by the landing craft from HMS Bulwark, included pregnant women and children

The country has since descended into anarchy with migrants pouring into the country from across Africa to try to reach Europe by boat.

The 19-page EU strategy paper for the mission, obtained by The Guardian, focuses on an air and naval campaign in the Med and in Libyan territorial waters. But it adds: ‘A presence ashore might be envisaged if agreement was reached with relevant authorities’.

The paper also speaks of possible operations to destroy smugglers’ assets ‘ashore’.

This could include ‘action along the coast, in harbour or at anchor of smugglers’ assets and vessels before their use’.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said that Bulwark was an ‘invaluable asset’ in responding to the growing problem of migrants trying to get to the West

The document – which will require UN approval, as well as the support of EU foreign ministers – says that seizing and destroying vessels on the high seas or in international waters in the Med would be permitted.

But it concedes there is a danger of innocent people being killed, saying: ‘Boarding operations against smugglers in the presence of migrants has a high risk of collateral damage including the loss of life.’

A Government spokesman said: ‘Discussions remain ongoing in the EU on the proposed Common Security and Defence Policy operation alongside parallel discussions at the UN Security Council.

‘We are considering how best to support the proposals to counter the smuggling networks but the details remain under discussion.

‘The UK has no plans to send combat troops to Libya.’