United States, Britain and France Begin Bombarding Libya
Libyan forces are being pin-pointed by US, British, and French missiles and warplanes. One hundred and ten Cruise missiles, fired by the United States and British ships and submarines, peppered a defiant Moammar Gadhafi's offensive against Libyan opposition forces.
An angry and defiant Gadhafi said Libya will fight back against undeserved "naked aggression." Libyan military officials claimed nearly 50 people, including, women, children and clerics, were killed in Saturday evening's attacks.
Saturday's bombardment marked the beginning of the offensive against Gadhafi on the belief Libyan military forces were not adhering to the United Nations-mandated cease-fire. Additional phases should include the enforcement of a United Nations no-fly zone, enacted on the regime earlier in the week.
The United States will conduct a damage assessment of the sites, which include SA-5 missile sites and communications facilities, infrastructure that is vital to the Libyan Army to conduct anti-aircraft defense and communicate with ground forces. A senior U.S. military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the cruise missiles, which fly close to the ground or sea at about 550 miles per hour, landed near Misrata and Tripoli.
Liam Fox, The British Defense Secretary said the Royal Air Force (RAF) deployed Tornado GR4 fast jets, which flew 3,000 miles from the United Kingdom and back, "making this the longest-range bombing mission conducted by the RAF since the (1982) Falklands conflict."
Gadhafi, spoke early Sunday on Libyan state TV, saying the U.N. charter provides for Libya's right to defend itself in a "war zone." Weapons depots will be opened."
After the initial bombs began to fall, U.S. President Barack Obama informed the American people of the efforts by a "broad coalition."
"The use of force is not our first choice," the president said from Brasilia, Brazil. "It is not a choice I make lightly. But we cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his own people that there will be no mercy."
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