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2011 military intervention in Libya

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Libyan No-Fly Zone
Part of Libyan uprising

The American destroyer USS Barry launches one of around 114 Tomahawk missiles fired initially in support of the no-fly zone
DateMarch 19, 2011 – ongoing
Location
Libya
Status Ongoing
Belligerents

 France
 United Kingdom
 United States
 Italy
 Spain
 Belgium
 Canada
 Denmark
 Netherlands
 Greece
 Norway
 UAE

 Qatar
 Libya Libya
Commanders and leaders

France Nicolas Sarkozy France Admiral Édouard Guillaud

United Kingdom David Cameron
United Kingdom General Sir David Richards

United States Barack Obama
United States General Carter Ham

United States Admiral Sam Locklear		 Libya Muammar Gaddafi
Casualties and losses
None

4 tanks[1][2]

Parts of air defence system[1]

The Libyan no-fly zone is a no-fly zone over Libya approved by the United Nations Security Council on 17 March 2011.[3] The no-fly zone was proposed during the 2011 Libyan uprising to prevent government forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi from carrying out air attacks on rebel forces.

Although the enforcement action, has not yet given an operational name, the military activities of some participating countries have been named individually.

On 12 March, the Arab League called on the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone.[4][5] On 15 March, Lebanese Ambassador Nawaf Salam tabled this as a resolution which was backed by the U.K. and France.[6] On 17 March 2011, the Security Council voted 10-0-5 to approve a no-fly zone through Resolution 1973. There were five abstentions, including Brazil, Russia, India and China who oppose military intervention against a sovereign country and by Germany, who abstained as it does not want to participate in any military operation in Libya.[7][8][9]

The full list of participating nations and their roles in applying these measures have not yet been specified, although France and the U.K. have stated their intention to uphold them as a matter of urgency, and Lebanon and the U.S. heavily backed the resolution.[10][11]

On 18 March, the Libyan foreign minister, Mussa Kussa, declared a ceasefire, attributing the U.N. resolution.[12] Artillery shelling on Misurata and Ajdabiya continued, and government soldiers continued approaching Benghazi.[13][14] Government troops and tanks entered the city on 19 March.[15] Artillery and mortars were also fired into the city.[16]

On 19 March, the no-fly zone enforcement began, with French aircraft undertaking sorties across Libya and a naval blockade by the Royal Navy.[17]

The U.N. resolution authorizes air-strikes against Libyan ground troops and "warships" posing a threat to civilians.[18] Air strikes against Libyan Army vehicles by French jets have since been confirmed and 114 "Tomahawk" cruise missiles have reportedly been fired in an initial assault by U.S. warships and a British submarine against Libyan air defenses.[1]

Proposal

Politicians, diplomats and organisations both Libyan and international called for a no-fly zone over Libya in light of airstrikes against Libyan rebels conducted by Muammar Gaddafi's military in the 2011 Libyan uprising.

Libyans

On February 21, 2011, Libyan deputy Permanent Representative to U.N. Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi "[called] on the U.N. to impose a no-fly zone on all Tripoli to cut off all supplies of arms and mercenaries to the regime."[19]

On March 9, 2011, the head of the Libyan National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, "pleaded for the international community to move quickly to impose a no-fly zone over Libya, declaring that any delay would result in more casualties".[20] Three days later, he stated that if pro-Gaddafi forces reached Benghazi, then they would kill "half a million" people. He stated, "If there is no no-fly zone imposed on Gaddafi's regime, and his ships are not checked, we will have a catastrophe in Libya."[21] On March 12, thousands of Libyan women marched in the streets of the rebel-held town of Benghazi, calling for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya. One of the protesters, Nada el-Turki, stated, "We don't want foreign intervention, we just want a no-fly zone and our boys will do the rest. But they have light weapons in the face of air strikes."[22]

International

The United States supported the no-fly zone, VOA News reported

On February 28, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, proposed the idea of a no-fly zone to prevent Muammar Gaddafi from "airlifting mercenaries" and "using his military aeroplanes and armoured helicopters against civilians".[23]

On March 7, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder announced that NATO decided to step up surveillance missions of E-3 AWACS aircraft to 24 hours a day. On the same day it was reported that an anonymous U.N. diplomat confirmed to Agence France Presse that France and Britain were drawing up a resolution on the no-fly zone that would be considered by the United Nations Security Council during the same week.[24][25] The Gulf Cooperation Council also on that day called upon the U.N. Security Council to "take all necessary measures to protect civilians, including enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya."[26]

By March 9, the United States had naval forces positioned off the coast of Libya, as well as forces already in the region - including the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Canada had dispatched naval frigate HMCS Charlottetown to the area, reinforcing the display of western power. Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay stated, "We are there for all inevitabilities. And NATO is looking at this as well... This is taken as a precautionary and staged measure." Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that the Canadian Forces Air Command is ready to contribute to setting up a no-fly zone if the U.N. and NATO decided to do this.

Template:Wikinews2 On March 12, the Arab League "called on the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Libya in a bid to protect civilians from air attack".[5][4][27] The Arab League's request was announced by Oman's Foreign minister, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, who stated that all member states present at the meeting agreed with the proposal.[5]

On March 15, a resolution for a no-fly zone was proposed and tabled by Nawaf Salam, Lebanon's Ambassador to the United Nations. The resolution was immediately backed by the United Kingdom and France.[28]

On March 17, 2011, the United Nations Security Council, acting under the authority of Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, approved a no-fly zone by a vote of 10 in favor, zero against, and five abstentions, via United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).[29] Less than 24 hours later, Libya announced that it will halt all military operations in the country in response to the Security Council resolution.[30][31]

Russian statements

On March 1, Russian NATO ambassador Dmitry Rogozin stated that: "A ban on the national air force or civil aviation to fly over their own territory is ... a serious interference into the domestic affairs of another country".[32]

On March 18, 2011, Chairman of the Russian State Duma International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachyov said that air strikes on Libya might "spark a huge conflict between the so-called West and the so-called Arab world."[33]

Enforcement

Initial NATO planning for a possible no-fly zone took place in late February and early March,[34] especially by NATO members United Kingdom and France.[35] The United Kingdom and France were early supporters of a no-fly zone and have sufficient airpower to impose a no-fly zone over the rebel-held areas, although might need additional assistance for a more extensive exclusion zone.

The U.S. has the air assets necessary to enforce a no-fly zone, but was cautious to support such an action prior to obtaining a legal basis for violating Libya's sovereignty. Because of the sensitive nature of military action by the U.S. against an Arab nation, the U.S. has sought Arab participation in the enforcement of a no-fly zone.[24]

At a congressional hearing, United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates explained that "a no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya to destroy the air defenses ... and then you can fly planes around the country and not worry about our guys being shot down. But that's the way it starts."[36]

On March 19th, the deployment of French fighter jets over Libya began.[17]

Forces committed

Canadian Forces Air Command CF-18 Hornet
File:Rafale-ec-1-7.jpg
French Air Force Dassault Rafales
RAF Eurofighter Typhoon
U.S. Navy supercarrier USS Enterprise

Bases committed

Additional countries

Middle East

  •  Jordan: U.S. congressional officials have said Jordan may be involved in enforcing the U.N. mission.[51]
  •  Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has been mentioned as possibly participating in air strikes.[57][58]

Europe

  •  Netherlands: Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal said that the Netherlands is prepared to provide as-yet unspecified support to forces enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya.[59]
  •  Sweden: Foreign Minister Carl Bildt announced that Sweden would consider military action in support of a no-fly zone if it is requested by NATO.[60]
  •  Turkey: the foreign ministry released a statement, which said that Turkey will make the "necessary preparations" to implement the no-fly zone.[61]

Operation names

Action by international forces

The American destroyer USS Barry launches one of around 114 Tomahawk missiles fired by the coalition

Template:Wikinews2 BBC News reported at 16:00 GMT 19 March 2011 that the French Air Force had sent 20 fighter planes over an area 100 km by 150 km (60 by 100 miles) over Benghazi to prevent any attacks on the rebel-controlled city.[2] "Our air force will oppose any aggression by Colonel Gaddafi against the population of Benghazi", said French President Nicolas Sarkozy.[63] BBC News reported at 16:59 GMT that at 16:45 GMT a French warplane had fired at and destroyed a Libyan military vehicle - this being confirmed by French defence ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire.[2]

According to Al-Jazeera, French aircraft destroyed four Libyan tanks in air strikes to the south-west of Benghazi.[1] The French military claimed that their aircraft had also flown reconnaissance missions over "all Libyan territory". On the same day David Cameron confirmed that Royal Air Force jets were also in action and reports suggested that the U.S. Navy had fired the first cruise missile.

The Pentagon and the U.K. Ministry of Defence confirmed that both Royal Navy (a Trafalgar Class SSN) and U.S. Navy ships (including USS Barry (DDG-52), pictured) and submarines fired at least 114 Tomahawk cruise missiles, supported with air attacks on military installations, both inland and on the coast.[64][65]

Initially, the operation is under command of United States Africa Command commanded by General Carter Ham.[66] Tactical command of the operation is executed from USS Mount Whitney in the Mediterranean Sea under command of Admiral Sam Locklear, commander United States Naval Forces Europe.[66] U.S. Vice-Admiral William Gortney stated that operational command will be transitioned to a coalition commander in the coming days.[citation needed]

Complexity

According to chairman of the American Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, a no-fly zone would be "an extraordinarily complex operation to set up."[67] American Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that more air assets would need to be moved into the vicinity of Libya and that the operation also would require "more airplanes than you would find on a single aircraft carrier ... it is a big operation in a big country." Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen stressed that "the imposition of a no-fly zone would be quite a complicated undertaking".[68] According to the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, establishing and maintaining a no-fly zone over Libya could cost the U.S. Department of Defense between $30 and $300 million a week under scenarios formulated by the think tank.[69]

On the contrary, Gen. Merrill McPeak, a former U.S. Air Force chief of staff, said: "I can’t imagine an easier military problem." He suggested concentrating flights over those parts of the country that Muammar Gaddafi doesn't control. That would remove the need to attack and take out Libyan air defense systems.[70]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b c "French military jets over Libya". BBC News. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  3. ^ "Security Council Approves 'No-Fly Zone' over Libya, Authorizing 'All Necessary Measures' to Protect Civilians, by Vote of 10 in Favour with 5 Abstentions". Un.org. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
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