US and UK cruise missiles hit more than 20 Libyan air defence targets, Pentagon officials said The UK, the US and France have begun attacking Libya as enforcement of the UN-mandated no-fly zone gets under way.
Pentagon officials say the US and the UK have fired more than 110 missiles. Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has said he will open arms depots to the people and the interests of Mediterranean countries will be in danger from now on.
Western planes bombed targets in the capital, Tripoli, said the AFP news agency, quoting witnesses and state TV.
Earlier on Saturday, pro-Gaddafi forces attacked the rebel stronghold of Benghazi despite declaring a ceasefire a day earlier.
A French plane fired the first shots against Libyan government targets at 1645 GMT, destroying a number of military vehicles, according to a military spokesman.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed that British planes are in action over Libya.
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This campaign to enforce Security Council resolution 1973 has got off to a rolling start.
We do not know yet exactly who is involved and indeed who will have overall command of the operation. But it is the French Air Force that has been in the skies first over Libya, conducting reconnaissance overflights during the course of the day and now firing the first shot in anger.
No details have yet been given by the French, other than that it was a Libyan military vehicle that was targeted. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft will be involved in the operation. A small number of Canadian jets have passed through Prestwick airport in Scotland on their way to the Mediterranean.
The US seems to be largely in a supporting role; it will provide what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called "unique assets", probably satellite and other forms of intelligence-gathering and perhaps some highly sophisticated aircraft to monitor the battleground.
The immediate aim is to halt in their tracks the Libyan government forces moving on Benghazi.
Any Libyan government armour that has already reached the outskirts of the city could be stranded there as its supply chain across the open desert is vulnerable to attack.
Analysis
We do not know yet exactly who is involved and indeed who will have overall command of the operation. But it is the French Air Force that has been in the skies first over Libya, conducting reconnaissance overflights during the course of the day and now firing the first shot in anger.
No details have yet been given by the French, other than that it was a Libyan military vehicle that was targeted. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft will be involved in the operation. A small number of Canadian jets have passed through Prestwick airport in Scotland on their way to the Mediterranean.
The US seems to be largely in a supporting role; it will provide what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called "unique assets", probably satellite and other forms of intelligence-gathering and perhaps some highly sophisticated aircraft to monitor the battleground.
The immediate aim is to halt in their tracks the Libyan government forces moving on Benghazi.
Any Libyan government armour that has already reached the outskirts of the city could be stranded there as its supply chain across the open desert is vulnerable to attack.
US President Barack Obama, speaking during a visit to Brazil, said the US was taking "limited military action" as part of a "broad coalition".
"We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy," he said.He repeated that no US ground troops would take part.
Shortly after the bombing started, a Libyan official went on TV to denounce the "barbarian aggression".
Col Gaddafi himself made a brief speech on Libyan radio, calling on people to resist.
"Civilian and military targets in the air and sea will be liable to serious danger in the Mediterranean," he said.
"Arms depots are now open and the masses are being equipped with all sorts of weapons in defence of Libya's independence, unity and honour," the Libyan leader warned.
'Necessary' A British submarine has fired a number of missiles at Libyan air defence targets, the Ministry of Defence said.
Mr Cameron said that launching military action against Libya was "necessary, legal and right".
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Allied forces
- UK: Providing Typhoon and Tornado jet fighters; surveillance planes; HMS Westminster and HMS Cumberland; submarines
- France: Carried out mission with at least 12 warplanes including Mirage fighters and Rafale jets; deploying aircraft carrier, warships
- US: Firing guided missiles from USS Barry and USS Stout; providing amphibious warships, and command-and-control ship USS Mount Whitney
- Italy: Nato base at Naples understood to be central hub; other Mediterranean bases made available
- Canada: Providing six F-18 fighter jets and 140 personnel
Libyan state TV reported that what it called the "crusader enemy" had bombed civilian areas of Tripoli, as well as fuel storage tanks supplying the western city of Misrata.
Sources in Tripoli told BBC Arabic that the attacks on the city had so far targeted the eastern areas of Sawani, Airport Road, and Ghasheer. These are all areas believed to host military bases.The air strikes on Misrata targeted a military airbase, the Reuters news agency reported, quoting two residents who denied the state TV reports that fuel stores were hit.
The cruise missiles were fired from one British submarine and a number of American destroyers and subs, said a Pentagon official.
The missiles hit more than 20 air defence sites along the Mediterranean coast, said Navy Vice Adm William E Gortney.
The action came hours after Western and Arab leaders met in Paris to agree how to enforce the UN resolution, which allows "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from forces loyal to Col Gaddafi.
French planes also flew reconnaissance missions over "all Libyan territory", military sources in Paris said earlier.
In addition, Canada is sending warplanes to the region, while Italy has offered the use of its military bases. A naval blockade against Libya is also being put in place.
The international community was intervening to stop the "murderous madness" of Col Gaddafi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.
"In Libya, the civilian population, which is demanding nothing more than the right to choose their own destiny, is in mortal danger," he warned. "It is our duty to respond to their anguished appeal."
Shortly after the airstrikes began, Libyan state TV said a French plane had been shot down near Tripoli. However, French military officials said all their planes had returned safely.
Col Gaddafi has ruled Libya for more than 40 years. An uprising against him began last month after long-time leaders of neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt were toppled.
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