Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi says the Mediterranean has been turned into a battlefield after Western air strikes yesterday and says he has opened arms depots for his people to defend the country.
Gaddafi, in a brief audio message broadcast on state television, condemned the allied Western attacks on Libya as ‘‘barbaric, unjustified Crusaders’ aggression.’’
He vowed to retaliate with military and civilian targets in the Mediterranean, warning that the interests of Mediterranean and North African countries were now ‘‘in danger.’’
‘‘The Mediterranean region has become a real battlefield,’’ he said. ‘‘Arms depots have been opened and all the Libyan people are being armed’’ to defend the country against Western forces.
British, French and US forces earlier on Saturday launched strikes from the air and sea against Gaddafi’s forces under a UN Security Council resolution to impose a ceasefire in a month-long showdown between loyalists and rebels.
US and British forces fired a barrage of at least 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles into Libya against Gaddafi’s air defences, the US military said. France said it carried out an initial four air strikes.
US Admiral William Gortney told reporters yesterday that "earlier this afternoon over 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from both US and British ships and submarines struck more than 20 integrated air defence systems and other air defence facilities ashore".
Reuters also reported Italian and Canadian forces were involved in the operation.
US President Barack Obama said he had authorised US military action. "Today, I authorised the armed forces of the United States to begin a limited military action in Libya," said Obama, who is in Brazil on an official visit.
"We must be clear: actions have consequences, and the writ of the international community must be enforced," he said, adding that the operation would not expand into US boots on the ground in Libya.
"As I said yesterday, we will not - I repeat - we will not deploy any US troops on the ground," he said.
"I want the American people to know that the use of force is not our first choice, and it's not a choice that I make lightly.
"But we cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people that there will be no mercy, and when his forces step up their assault on cities like Benghazi and Misrata where innocent men and women face brutality and death at the hands of their own government."
Odyssey Dawn
The US operation -- named "Odyssey Dawn" -- followed initial missions by French warplanes, which carried out four air strikes on Saturday, destroying several armoured vehicles of Gaddafi forces.
Two US Navy destroyers and three US submarines are positioned in the Meditteranean near Libya, all of which are equipped with Tomahawk missiles. The Pentagon said a barrage of Tomahawk cruise missiles struck more than 20 targets, including surface-to-air sites, early warning sites, and communications facilities.
French warplanes also carried out four air strikes in Libya , destroying several armoured vehicles of forces loyal to Gaddafi, the French military said.
According to the army chief, a first strike took place around 1645 GMT (0345 AEDT Sunday) against "a Libyan vehicle clearly identified as belonging to pro-Gaddafi forces".
Within the next hour, French Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighter jets conducted three other strikes, destroying armoured vehicles of the Libyan forces in the eastern region of Benghazi, the rebels' stronghold, the military said.
The operations are to continue through the night, the military said.
British in action
British forces are in action over Libya as part of a UN-sanctioned intervention to stop Gaddafi's forces, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Saturday.
"Tonight, British forces are in action over Libya. They are part of an international coalition that has come together to enforce the will of the United Nations and to protect the Libyan people," Cameron said.
He defended the action, saying it "is necessary, it is legal, and it is right."
"It is necessary because, with others, we should be trying to prevent him using his military against his own people.
"It is legal, because we have the backing of the United Nations Security Council and also of the Arab League and many others.
"And it is right because we believe we should not stand aside while this dictator murders his own people."
Cameron also praised the British armed forces as "the bravest of the brave".
The action came two days after a UN Security Council resolution authorised military action.
Tripoli bombed, claims media
Libyan media said Western warplanes bombed civilian targets in Tripoli, causing casualties, shortly after France's launch of the multinational air campaign against Gaddafi.
State television said hundreds of people had gathered at Bab al-Aziziyah, Gaddafi's Tripoli headquarters, and at the capital's international airport, ahead of the widely anticipated air strikes.
"Crowds are forming around the targets identified by France," the television reported, showing pictures of flag-waving people gathering to serve as human shields.
Last week, a highly placed French source referred to Bab al-Aziziya, a military air base in Sirte, east of the capital, and another in Sebha in the south as likely targets of a strike.
Russia's foreign ministry expressed regret over the armed intervention under UN Resolution 1973 "which was adopted in haste".
According to France's army chief, a first French air strike took place around 1645 GMT (0345 AEDT Sunday) against "a Libyan vehicle clearly identified as belonging to pro-Gaddafi forces".
Within the next hour, French Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighter jets conducted three other strikes, destroying armoured vehicles of the Libyan forces in the eastern region of Benghazi, the rebels' stronghold, the military said.
Gaddafi's response
Gaddafi said the Mediterranean has turned into a "real battlefield" after Western air strikes and opened arms depots for his people to defend the country.
In a brief audio message broadcast on state television, he condemned the allied Western attacks on Libya as "barbaric, unjustified Crusaders' aggression."
He vowed to retaliate with military and civilian targets in the Mediterranean, warning that the interests of Mediterranean and North African countries were now "in danger."
"The Mediterranean region has become a real battlefield," he said. "Arms depots have been opened and all the Libyan people are being armed" to defend the country against Western forces.
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