Global General

Coalition hits more Libyan targets

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-26 07:45

WASHINGTON - The international coalition enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya hit more targets in the Northern African country, while the United States is in the process of transferring control of the Libyan mission to NATO, Bill Gortney, director of the U.S. Joint Staff, told a Pentagon briefing Friday.

The coalition fired 16 more Tomahawk cruise missiles during the past 24 hours, while planes continued to fly sorties over Libya, and two Qatar jets flew their first mission with two French jets.

Gortney said the targets are more "opportunity" rather than predesignated. He said the coalition struck more Libyan government ground forces outside the rebel-held town Ajdabiyah, and more command and control targets around Tripoli. He said the attacks have reduced Libyan leaders' ability to exercise command over ground forces.

Detailing what kind of ammunition the U.S. military put to use in Libya, Gortney said they used precision guided bombs, the Mark 80 series of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), as well as other general purpose bombs. He said he's not aware of any depleted uranium bomb use.

Gortney said the United States is in the process of transferring control of the mission to the coalition. He said NATO has already taken over the arms embargo at sea and no-fly zone patrol in the air. But the protection of civilian population aspect of the mission is still in U.S. hands, and the transfer time and details are still to be determined.

Besides providing aerial refueling capability, the U.S, military is currently providing the coalition with aerial command, surveillance and warning capability such as Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle, J-STARS battle management/command and control aircraft, AWACS airborne radar system, EA-18 Grawler electronic warfare aircraft and P-3 maritime patrol aircraft.

Gortney said as more surveillance aircraft are brought in the battle-field, the coalition will be better equipped to attack Libyan ground troops.