United States and its allies continue to work towards enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya. New York Times reported that the U.S.-led airstrikes have nearly accomplished the objective of destroying Gaddafi's air defenses and establishing a no-fly zone.
Reuters reported earlier that U.S forces and planes took part in the operation called, Odyssey Dawn, targeting defenses around the Libyan cities of Tripoli and Misrata. Though the three-day offensive against Libya has ceased for now, it has evoked negative international reactions, especially from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who broached on a sensitive chord when he compared the attacks to medieval crusades.
However, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defended the action action saying: It is to protect civilians and it is to provide access for humanitarian assistance.
The recent UN-sanctioned military action against Gaddafi's forces has been spearheaded by France, Britain and the US, all acting outside the NATO protocol.
WSJ reported that Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini called for command of operations enforcing the no-fly zone to be passed to NATO, saying that the use of Italy's seven military bases by coalition forces lacked proper coordination. U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron supported Italy's call for NATO involvement. However, France does not want NATO to take a lead role in the operations. A host of allied warplanes were used in the offensive against Libya.
The Guardian reported spectrum of air strength unleashed on Libya included about 20 French Rafale fighter jets, British Typhoon and GR4 Tornado ground attack aircraft. Denmark pitched in with six F-16 fighters and Canada provided CF-18 aircrafts.
Here is a slideshow which shows the key allied warplanes used by the U.S. led coalition in the Libyan offensive:
A Spanish F-18 jet fighter plane is parked at the NATO airbase of Decimomannu, in the southern Italian island of Sardinia, March 20, 2011ReutersAn RAF C130 transport aircraft takes off from the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus, March 20, 2011ReutersA French C-160-Transall taxis after landing at the aerial military base of Solenzara in Corsica March 21, 2011. The French operation, with some 20 fighter jets deployed in an initial operation in Libya, is being run out of the Solenzara air base on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, around an hour's flight from LibyaReutersA U.S. Airforce KC135 air refuelling tanker sits on the runway in Moron de la Frontera military airbase near Seville
ReutersA F-16 jet fighter flies over a NATO airbase in AvianoReutersA U.S. Air Force AWACS surveillance aircraft comes in for a landing at the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus
ReutersThis combination photo shows a U.S. military Global Hawk drone taking off from Sigonella NATO Airbase in the southern Italian island of Sicily.ReutersA U.S. Air Force U-2 jet takes off from the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus.ReutersOne of Norwegian F-16 jet fighters takes off from Bodoe in northern Norway, March 21, 2011, en route to Sicily, Italy, from where they may be deployed in order to help enforce the recent UN Security Council resolution establishing a no-fly zone above Libya. ReutersA French Rafale fighter jet, seen in this picture released by ECPAD, makes its approach for an airborne re-fueling operation during attacks on Libya.ReutersFrench Dassault Mirage 2000-5 aircraft prepares for take off from Dijon military base on a mission to overfly Libyan airspace in this ECPAD (French Defence communication and audiovisual production agency) handout photo, March 19, 2011.ReutersA C-17 Globemaster takes off at the NATO airbase in AvianoReutersA British Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon takes off from Gioia del Colle NATO Airbase in southern ItalyReutersA British RAF Tornado lands at Gioia del Colle NATO Airbase in southern Italy March 21, 2011.ReutersA Canadian CF-18A fighter plane prepares to land at the Birgi NATO Airbase in Trapani in the southern Italian island of SicilyReutersTwo Danish F-16 Fighting Falcons fly over Sigonella NATO Airbase in the southern Italian island of Sicily March 21, 2011ReutersOne of three Air Force Global Strike Command B-2 Spirit bombers returns to home base at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, March 20, 2011 after striking targets in support of the international response which is enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya.Reuters
