The Libyan rebels are supposed to be potential allies, perhaps blasting their way out of there would not have been the best option if the goal was to foster closer cooperation.
I’m sure it will get straightened out soon enough...
You are on the right track. Their mission was to get their diplos into contact with unknown rebel leaders. This is not a cookie cutter operation. They had to go to the heart of rebel activity to find the rebel leaders.
Now, we’ll find out from this if the rebel leaders are actually rabid islamicts, who won’t play nice with Brits, even Brits who are trying to help them.