Western allies unleashed a series of dramatic air and missile strikes against Muammar Gaddafi‘s military as international leaders mounted the biggest intervention in the Arab world since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
As night fell the United States launched Tomahawk missiles at Libyan targets from a warship stationed in the Mediterranean, in what the Pentagon called “Operation Odyssey Dawn.” At the same time Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed that British forces were in action “over Libya“.
The strikes took place barely 48 hours after the UN Security Council passed a resolution authorising the use of “all necessary force” to protect civilians from Gaddafi’s military surge. The patience of the international community finally ran out when Gaddafi’s troops pounded the rebel stronghold of Benghazi early yesterday, hours after the Libyan dictator had promised a full ceasefire and invited foreign officials into his country to monitor it.
After US, European and Arab leaders met for urgent talks in Paris, the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, said his aircraft were already in action to stop what he described as Gaddafi’s “murderous madness”. He said: “Our air force will oppose any aggression by Colonel Gaddafi against the population of Benghazi. As of now, our aircraft are preventing planes from attacking the town. As of now, other French aircraft are ready to intervene against tanks, armoured vehicles threatening unarmed civilians.”