Britain has agreed to deploy around 350 troops to West Africa to support French forces.
Up to 40 military advisers will train soldiers in Mali and another 200 will be sent to neighbouring countries to assist training there.
10 Downing Street said the UK was doing all it could to support the French intervention.
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said that although it was important the mission in Mali haad British support, it is "not for us to put combat troops on the ground".
"We have to be very clear about how long we intend to be there [and] what it is we're seeking to achieve, so that the public, who are wary and weary after Iraq and Afghanistan, don't say 'Oh not again'," he said.
