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Monday, March 21, 2011

Warplanes and missiles attack Libya

Libyan people dodge as a rebel shoots in celebration after Moammar Gadhafi's forces retreated on the outskirts of Benghazi, eastern Libya, Sunday, March 20, 2011. The U.S. military said 112 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from American and British ships and submarines at more than 20 coastal targets to clear the way for air patrols to ground Libya's air force.
A Libyan rebel tries to make his way after NATO launched an airstrike on tanks belonging to the forces of Moammar Gadhafi on the outskirts of Benghazi, eastern Libya, Sunday, March 20, 2011. The U.S. military said 112 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from American and British ships and submarines at more than 20 coastal targets to clear the way for air patrols to ground Libya's air force.
This Saturday, March 19, 2011 photo provided by the U.S. Navy shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) as it launches a Tomahawk missile in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn from the Mediterranean Sea . The U.S. fired more than 100 cruise missiles from the sea while French fighter jets targeted Moammar Gadhafi's forces from the air on Saturday, launching the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war in support of an uprising that had seemed on the verge of defeat.
In this photograph made available by the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Air Force VC10 and Tristar air-to-air refuelling aircraft, from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, England, which supported overnight operations against targets in Libya, Saturday, March 19, 2011. They accompanied RAF Tornado GR4 fast jets from RAF Marham that struck Libyans air defences, in the longest strike mission since the Black Buck operations during the Falklands conflict. British Prime Minister Cameron said that launching a military action against Libya is "necessary, legal and right." Speaking after chairing an emergency meeting with senior government officials in his office in Downing Street, the leader said his thoughts are with British service personnel who are risking their lives to save others.

A British RAF plane takes off from the RAF (Royal Air Force) Akrotiri a British military base near southern port city of Limassol, Cyprus, Sunday, March 20, 2011. In diplomatic terms, international military action against Libya's leader went from the brainstorming stage to the shooting-at-tanks stage with stunning speed. Saturday's launch of military strikes by French, British and U.S. forces with Arab backing and U.N. mandate was not universally endorsed. And it's unclear whether it will be fast enough to do what its proponents want, to shore up rebel forces and oust Libya's leader Moammar Gadhafi.

A British RAF AWAC plane prepares to land as another one is seen on the ground at the RAF (Royal Air Force) Akrotiri, a British military base, near southern port city of Limassol, Cyprus, Sunday, March 20, 2011. In diplomatic terms, international military action against Libya's leader went from the brainstorming stage to the shooting-at-tanks stage with stunning speed. Saturday's launch of military strikes by French, British and U.S. forces with Arab backing and U.N. mandate was not universally endorsed. And it's unclear whether it will be fast enough to do what its proponents want, to shore up rebel forces and oust Libya's leader Moammar Gadhafi.

The French aircraft carrier "Charles De Gaulle" leaves the naval base in Toulon, south of France, Sunday, March 20, 2011. Top officials from the United States, Europe and the Arab world have launched immediate military action to protect civilians as Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces attacked the heart of the country's rebel uprising.
This March 7, 2011 satellite image provided by GeoEye shows Moammar Gadhafi's compound in Tripoli, Libya. Gadhafi vowed a "long war" against the international military force that struck at his forces with airstrikes and dozens of cruise missiles that shook the Libyan capital early Sunday, March 20, 2011 with the sound of explosions and anti-aircraft fire. In the capital of the rebel-held east, the Libyan leader's guns appeared to go silent.
In this March 19, 2011 photo provided by the U.S. Navy, Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class Jordan Lochmann, uses night vision binoculars to scan the horizon for Tomahawk missile trails Saturday, from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge during attacks in Libya. After a barrage of attacks by sea-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles Saturday, an array of U.S. warplanes _ including several Air force B-2 stealth bombers _ followed in the pre-dawn hours Sunday with a coordinated assault using precision-guided bombs, according to a U.S. military official.

In a March 19, 2011 photo provided by the U.S. Navy, Cpl. Sean Moberly runs preflight checks on an AV-8B Harrier on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge in the Mediterranean Sea in preparation for missions in support of the international response to the unrest in Libya. After a barrage of attacks by sea-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles Saturday, an array of U.S. warplanes _ including several Air force B-2 stealth bombers _ followed in the pre-dawn hours Sunday with a coordinated assault using precision-guided bombs, according to a U.S. military official.
German Tornado fighter jets are a parked on the tarmac of the Italian Airforce airbase in Decimomannu on the Italian Sardinia island, Sunday, March 20, 2011. NATO's top decision-making body is poised to decide whether the alliance will join in the coalition onslaught on Libya. Diplomats said NATO's military planners are due to present on Sunday final action plans to the North Atlantic Council. The body should then decide whether the alliance will join the coalition operation or just provide logistic, intelligence and other support to the nations taking part in the intervention.

An F-16 jet fighter flies over the Nato airbase in Aviano, Italy, Sunday, March 20, 2011. NATO's top decision-making body is poised to decide whether the alliance will join in the coalition onslaught on Libya. Diplomats said NATO's military planners are due to present on Sunday final action plans to the North Atlantic Council. The body should then decide whether the alliance will join the coalition operation or just provide logistic, intelligence and other support to the nations taking part in the intervention.

An F-16 jet fighter is parked at the Nato airbase in Aviano, Italy, Sunday, March 20, 2011. NATO's top decision-making body is poised to decide whether the alliance will join in the coalition onslaught on Libya. Diplomats said NATO's military planners are due to present on Sunday final action plans to the North Atlantic Council. The body should then decide whether the alliance will join the coalition operation or just provide logistic, intelligence and other support to the nations taking part in the intervention.



In this March 19, 2011 photo provided by the U.S. Navy, Aviation Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Joseph Fremen, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, calibrates the forward looking infrared system of a Sea Hawk helicopter on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge in the Mediterranean Sea. After a barrage of attacks by sea-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles on Libya Saturday, an array of U.S. warplanes _ including several Air force B-2 stealth bombers _ followed in the pre-dawn hours Sunday with a coordinated assault using precision-guided bombs, according to a U.S. military official.
Libyan people celebrate on a tank belonging to the forces of Moammar Gadhafi in the outskirts of Benghazi, eastern Libya, Sunday, March 20, 2011. The tanks were destroyed earlier by NATO planes. The U.S. military said 112 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from American and British ships and submarines at more than 20 coastal targets to clear the way for air patrols to ground Libya's air force.
Libyan people celebrate on a tank belonging to the forces of Moammar Gadhafi in the outskirts of Benghazi, eastern Libya, Sunday, March 20, 2011. The tanks were destroyed earlier by NATO plans
Canadian F18 Hornet fighters arrive at the air base of Trapani Birgi in the southern island of Sicily on March 18, 2011. Italian air bases could play a key role in any military action against Libya but the prospect of Rome's first operation against its former colony since World War II carries high risks, experts said.
Libyan rebels walk past wrecked military vehicles belonging to Moammer Khaddafi forces bombed by the French airforce in al-Wayfiyah 35 Km West of Benghazi on March 20, 2011. Dozens of Kadhafi military vehicles, including tanks, were destroyed in morning air strikes by the coalition west of Benghazi, as a semblance of normality returned with cars out on the road and street markets reopened in the rebel bastion.
A shrapnel riddled wall, painted with the Libyan rebellion flag, is seen in Benghazi on March 20, 2011, a day after an international campaign of air and sea strikes destroyed Libyan targets

A Libyan rebel smiles next to wrecked military vehicles belonging to Moammer Khaddafi forces hit by French warplanes on March 20, 2011. Dozens of Kadhafi military vehicles, including tanks, were destroyed in morning air strikes by the coalition west of Benghazi, as a semblance of normality returned with cars out on the road and street markets reopened in the rebel bastion.
Libyan rebels wave their flag on top of a wrecked tank belonging to Moammer Khaddafi's forces on the western entrance of Benghazi on March 20, 2011. The initial part of an international operation to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya "has been successful" and the government's offensive on Benghazi has been stopped, top US military commander Michael Mullen said.
In this handout image provided by the U.S. Navy, Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class Jordan Orr, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, checks the mount for a GAL-21 machine gun on an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) in preparation for Operation Odyssey Dawn missions March 19, 2011 at sea. Approximately 112 cruise missiles fired from U.S. and British ships and submarines targetting about 20 radar and anti-aircraft sites along Libya's Mediterranean coast.
A Libyan jet bomber crashes after being shot down in Benghazi on March 19, 2011 as Libya's rebel stronghold came under attack, with at least two air strikes and sustained shelling of the city's south sending thick smoke into the sky.

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