Sunday, March 27, 2011

Libyan aviation 'no longer exists as a fighting force'

The air force of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi 'no longer exists as a fighting force' and the international coalition now applied relentless pressure on the Libyan ground forces, a British official said today. The Vice Marshal Greg Bagwell, commander of the Royal Air Force UK operations against Libya, described as successful air operations of the international coalition and said the allies can now fly freely in the Libyan airspace.

"Indeed, the strength Libyan airline no longer exists as a fighting force and its integrated air defense system and command and control networks were severely degraded to the point where we can operate with virtual impunity in Libya 'he said. During a visit to the British crews in Gioia del Colle in southern Italy, Bagwell said the international coalition care that innocent people are protected during the attacks.

But 'we Libyan forces on the ground under constant surveillance and attack when they threaten or attack civilian populations, "added the soldier, quoted in reports of the news channel British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). British official's comments were backed by U.S. Admiral Gerard Hueber, head of mission in Libya, who ensured that 'we are pushing Gadhafi ground forces that threaten the city.

" Hueber insisted that no reports of civilian casualties caused by Allied operations and reiterated that the priority is precisely to protect the Libyan population. Despite the coalition air attacks, Libyan forces on Wednesday were still in their positions, according to reports from Libya's Gaddafi tanks continued to fire against the city of Misurata, rebel stronghold.

There are also reports of heavy fighting between rebels and government forces in the strategic city of Ajdabiya, where residents fled in the midst of shelling and gunfire, while loud explosions were reported in Tripoli. United States, France and Britain launched air and naval attacks against forces loyal to Gadhafi since Saturday, but these statements confirm that certain ground troops are also attacked by the coalition.

"To protect civilian populations, in agreement with our partners coalition, yes, we attacked Gadhafi forces attacking the population centers, "said the admiral in a conference call from Mount Whitney, USS and coalition forces on the coast of Libya. Troops loyal to Muammar Gadhafi attack especially the cities of Ajdabiya, (160 km south of Benghazi), Misrata (200 km east of Tripoli) and Zauiya (60 km west of Tripoli), the report said.

" In Abjabiya, regime forces intensified fighting in and outside the city. Misrata continue disposing of the opposition intensified its operations and attack civilian populations in the city, "said the U.S. official." innocent civilians populations should be protected, Gadhafi duty forces to cease fire, halt its advance in Benghazi, and Zauiya Misrata and allow access to the Libyan people, "he said, adding that civilians were" deliberately "taken as a target.

The coalition aircraft are attacking "tanks, artillery and missile launchers, the forces supporting the Libyan regime, concluded Hueber.

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