ALLIED FORCES:THE SCALE of western and Arab military might being deployed to enforce the United Nations security council resolution in Libya became clear yesterday as the major build-up of forces continued on the Mediterranean rim.
France, one of the leading players in the intervention, deployed about 20 combat aircraft in an initial operation, including Rafale and Mirage fighters and at least one surveillance aircraft.
The target area involved is about 100km by 150km around the rebel-controlled city of Benghazi. The French operation is being run from the Solenzara air base in Corsica, about an hour’s flight from Libya in a fighter jet.
France's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulleleft the southern port of Toulon yesterday carrying a crew of about 1,800 and some 20 aircraft. It could reach the Libyan coast by late tonight, accompanied by an attack submarine, several frigates and a refuelling ship.
Britain said it participated in a co-ordinated strike on Saturday against Libyan air defence systems using Tomahawk missiles launched from one of its Trafalgar-class submarines. The British ministry of defence also confirmed Storm Shadow missiles were launched from a number of Tornado GR4 jets flown from a Royal Air Force base in Norfolk. Britain has two frigates off the Libyan coast, HMS Cumberlandand HMS Westminster, which could be called on to support operations.
Although the US described its involvement as “limited military action”, it deployed aircraft and cruise missiles to knock out Libyan air defences on Saturday.
A US defence official said the US navy had three submarines fitted with Tomahawk missiles in the Mediterranean ready to participate, including attack submarines Newport Newsand the Providence.
They were joined by two navy ships. In all, the US navy has five combat ships in the Mediterranean, including at least one guided-missile destroyer, but there are no US aircraft carriers close to Libya. The Pentagon said that the US was in charge of the western intervention but the intention was to transfer it to a “coalition command” in the coming days.
A number of other countries have made military resources available to the mission. A Canadian warship joined naval actions yesterday, while Canadian fighter aircraft had also reached the region.
Italy assigned eight aircraft to the coalition command and were ready to take part in operations immediately, while Rome also made seven bases – including five on the southern mainland and Sicily – available to its allies.
Between them, Denmark, Norway and Spain agreed to supply tanker aircraft, fighter aircraft and a submarine to the effort. Two Arab states have also committed military hardware.
US military officers were quoted as saying aircraft from Qatar were moving into position near Libya, while it was reported that a number of F-16 aircraft belonging to the United Arab Emirates were expected at a base in Italy last night. – (Additional reporting: Reuters)