UN alliance successfully imposes no-fly zone in Libya
Reuters
03/20/2011
- A US general says the no-fly zone could create a stalemate.
- Italy, Spain, Belgium, Poland and Denmark are supporting the alliance.
- Missile strikes by the US and UK have hit 20 out of 22 targets.
An aerial assault by US, French and British planes stopped an advance by Gadhafi''s troops on the rebel-held city of Benghazi on Sunday killing at least 14 government soldiers.
The United States says the UN-endorsed intervention is aimed at forcing Gadhafi''s troops into a cease-fire and end attacks on civilians who launched an uprising last month. Forces loyal to Gadhafi, who has ruled Libya for 41 years, have taken back large swathes of territory from rebels but the air attacks may help the rebels regroup.
A top US military officer, meanwhile, acknowledged that a no-fly zone - successfully installed over Libya - could create a stalemate with Muammar Gadhafi''s forces even as Western warplanes halted an anti-rebel offensive at Benghazi.
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US military''s Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the CBS program "Face the Nation" that the air mission in the North African country has a clear, limited scope.
Mullen press that the US-led air strikes had "taken out" Gadhafi''s air defenses, struck air fields and attacked Libyan ground forces near the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
International alliance
France sent an aircraft carrier toward Libya and its planes were over the country again on Sunday, defense officials said. Britain said its planes had targeted Libya''s air defenses mainly around the capital Tripoli.
Italian aircraft are ready to join operations against Libya starting Sunday, Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa said.
France also said that Qatar would be joining the international operation against the forces of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi within hours.
France sent the first planes to Libya on Saturday, and fired the first strikes launching the military intervention aimed at protecting Libyan civilians. It sent about 15 planes to eastern Libya on Sunday
Missile strikes launched by the United States and Britain as part of a bid to cripple Libyan air defenses hit 20 of 22 targets, the US military said. The military also said three US stealth bombers took part in air strikes early on Sunday.