Security and defence chiefs will discuss increasing UK support for the French-led military operation in Mali after David Cameron vowed to show "iron resolve" in tackling Islamist terrorism in the aftermath of the deadly Algerian siege.
The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the National Security Council to consider what additional surveillance and transport help can be provided to the assault on rebels in the neighbouring country on top of two RAF C17 transport aircraft despatched last week.
Britain was "not seeking a combat role", he insisted yesterday, but The Times reported that units from all three forces had been placed on "high readiness" to deploy.
A French soldier secures a perimeter on the outskirts of Diabaly, Mali
The stepping up of involvement was under review the day after the PM heralded what he said was a global "generational struggle" against al Qaida-inspired Islamist terrorism in North Africa.
He pledged to provide intelligence and counter-terrorism assets to help track down and dismantle the terror network responsible for last week's attack on an Algerian natural gas plant.
Six Britons are thought to be among 37 foreign workers who died at the remote desert facility at In Amenas - part-operated by BP - which was overrun by heavily-armed terrorists.
Some 29 of the hostage-takers died, while three were captured by Algerian troops during a special forces mission to end the four-day stand off.
Three of the Britons killed have been named as 46-year-old security expert Paul Morgan, systems supervisor Garry Barlow, 49, from Liverpool, and 59-year-old planning manager Kenneth Whiteside, from Glenrothes, Fife.
Colombian BP executive Carlos Estrada, who lived in London, is also believed to have died.
Forensic experts from the UK, US and Norway are working with the Algerian authorities to formally identify a number of bodies found at the site, thought to include the three further Britons.
Cameron cautioned that task could take "some time".
On Mali, he also confirmed, Britain will provide troops to an EU mission to train the Malian military to take on Islamist militants who have taken over the north of the country.
The mission, due to deploy in February or March, is expected to include around 250 trainers and 250 force protection troops and Cameron said that the British contribution would number "in the tens, not the hundreds", with aides saying it would be at the lower end of that range.
The Times reported that Army, Navy and RAF personnel had been readied for possible involvement in the French operation and that military chiefs had been given until the end of the week to draw up contingency plans for African operations - including training - codenamed Operation Newcombe.
An MoD spokesperson said: "The MoD is supporting French efforts through logistical support. Ministers will continue to review the situation and any requirement for further support.
"However, planning does not include British personnel in a ground combat role."
The Prime Minister defended deep cuts in the armed forces - with details of where the latest tranche of cuts may fall being outlined by forces chiefs today.
Medics could be among around 5,000 voluntary and compulsory redundancies this time, the Daily Telegraph reported, as part of the effort to slash total numbers by around 40,000 to 82,000.
The MoD said it was retaining an exemption for troops preparing to serve in Afghanistan.
As the families of the identified victims of the Algeria bloodbath paid tribute to their loved ones, some criticised the British authorities for failing to keep them informed.
Mr Whiteside's brother Bob said his family first learnt of his death on social media website Facebook, and were only later told by police that he had been "executed".
And the family of survivor Allen McCloud, 53, from Plymouth, said the standard of information provided by the British authorities, fuel company BP and recruitment company Orion was "very poor".
A Foreign Office spokesman said the welfare of British nationals had been its top priority throughout and that it tried to provide as much support and information to relatives as possible.
A poll for ITV found 41% thought the UK should play no part at all in the French-led operation, against 25% who said it should.
Fewer than one in five (18%) thought British troops should be deployed on the ground in Mali, against 47% who disagreed.
- ComRes interviewed 2,013 British adults for ITV News from January 18 to 20.