Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. military has launched a missile attack against Libya's air defenses.
A senior U.S. military official says the strike was aimed at sites along the Libyan coast.
In a Pentagon briefing, Vice Admiral William Gortney said over 110 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles were fired from both U.S. and British ships and submarines. The missiles struck more than 20 intergrated air defense systems and other air defense facilities on shore in Libya.
He said the targets were selected based on the threat they posed to coalition pilots and the direct threat to the people of Libya.
Gortney stressed that this is only the first phase of a multi-phase military operation designed to enforce the United Nation's resolution and to deny the Libyan Regime the ability to use force against it's own people.
"This is an International military effort, urged by the Libyan people themselves and by other Arab nations, " says Gortney.
A senior U.S. military official says the strike was aimed at sites along the Libyan coast.
In a Pentagon briefing, Vice Admiral William Gortney said over 110 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles were fired from both U.S. and British ships and submarines. The missiles struck more than 20 intergrated air defense systems and other air defense facilities on shore in Libya.
He said the targets were selected based on the threat they posed to coalition pilots and the direct threat to the people of Libya.
Gortney stressed that this is only the first phase of a multi-phase military operation designed to enforce the United Nation's resolution and to deny the Libyan Regime the ability to use force against it's own people.
"This is an International military effort, urged by the Libyan people themselves and by other Arab nations, " says Gortney.
