Saturday, March 19, 2011

Airwar against Gadafi begins

International forces fired more than 110 missiles on 20 radar and anti-aircraft sites along the coast [AFP/US Navy]


Newsvideo can be seen here

United States and European military forces have bombarded Libya with cruise missiles and airstrikes as part of a broad international effort to enforce a UN-mandated no-fly zone. French planes fired the first shots on Saturday in the biggest international military intervention in the Arab world since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, destroying tanks and armoured vehicles in eastern Libya. Hours later, US and British warships and submarines launched more than 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles at more than 20 coastal targets to clear the way for air patrols to ground Libya''s air force. An unnamed US national security official said the air defences in the oil-producing North African country have been "severely crippled" by the barrage of missile strikes.
"Gaddafi''s air defence systems have been severely disabled. It''s too soon to predict what he and his ground forces may do in response to today''s strikes," the military source said on condition of anonymity. Read article here

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