Post date: Mar 19, 2011 9:8:31 PM
U.S., British ships launch missiles at Libya.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 19, 2011) POOL - U.S. and British ships and submarines launched missile strikes against Libya on Saturday (March 19), the director of the U.S. military's
Joint Staff said.
"Earlier this afternoon over 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from both U.S. and British ships and submarines, struck more than 20 integrated air defence systems and other air defence facilities ashore," Vice Admiral Bill Gortney said.The airstrikes started at 1500 EST/1900GMT as the West began a first phase of its military operations to force Muammar Gaddafi from power..
Gaddafi has warned Western powers they will regret getting involved in his country's internal affairs.
The United States, France, Britain, Canada and Italy make up the coalition carrying out the operation, called "Odyssey Dawn." Arab nations are expected to join later, said a U.S. military official on condition of anonymity.
Some 25 coalition ships, including three U.S. submarines armed with Tomahawk missiles, are stationed in the Mediterranean, a military slide showed.
Five U.S. surveillance planes are also in the area.
Officials said U.S. forces and aircraft will take part but U.S. planes had not yet begun patrolling the skies above Libya.