PARIS - A French warplane has fired on a Libyan military vehicle as France deployed some 20 aircraft to protect civilians and to enforce a U.N.-backed no-fly zone over Benghazi, the French spokesman for the Joint Staff said March 19.
"Fire was opened at 17:45 on a military vehicle which was positively identified," Army Col. Thierry Burkard told a press conference. The exact type of vehicle was undisclosed.
This was the official report of an engagement by French combat aircraft, as the planes began patrolling Libyan airspace under U.N. Resolution 1973, adopted by the Security Council March 17.
"French Air Force air operations began this afternoon," defense ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire said.
The U.N. resolution calls for enforcing a no-fly zone against Libyan aircraft and allows coalition aircraft to attack Libyan military vehicles used against civilians, Teisseire said.
The French air deployment would allow time for other coalition countries to gather their assets and to put in place a command structure, Burkhard said.
The air operations got under way as Western and Arab leaders gathered here for a summit meeting to discuss the Libyan crisis. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States had "unique capabilities" to help enforce the no-fly zone.
"As of now, our aircraft are preventing planes from attacking the town (Benghazi)," President Nicolazs Sarkozy said after the meeting. "As of now, other French aircraft are ready to intervene against tanks, armored vehicles threatening unarmed civilians."
Some 20 aircraft including strike and multirole versions of the Mirage 2000, Rafale, C-135 tankers, Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) spy planes and Transall transports were involved in the operations, which were under way as the press conference was being held, Burkhard said.
"The operations are still going on," he said.
The French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier was due to leave Toulon naval base on March 20 and its fleet of Rafale and Super Etendard fighters and Hawkeye surveillance aircraft were expected to be operational within 48 hours, French officials said.
The task force will include the Dupleix and Aconit frigates and the Meuse fleet auxiliary tanker.
The French defense ministry emphasized its speedy response, 48 hours after adoption of the U.N. resolution and the ability to project force in a complex air operation and in such volume.
The first combat aircraft, four Rafales, took off at 11 a.m. from Saint-Dizier-Robinson Air Base to assure the interception mission over Benghazi, an area of 150 km by 100 km. They were refueled in the air and directed by the AWACS aircraft, which flew from Avord air base. Two other Rafales flew reconnaissance missions, one equipped with the Reco NG intelligence gathering pod. Six C135 inflight refueling tankers from Istres air base took part in the operations.
Two Mirage 2000D fighter-bombers took off from Nancy air base, and two Mirage 2000-5 multirole aircraft flew from Dijon to perform ground strike and escort missions.
A patrol of two Rafales from Saint Dizier was equipped with the Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) smart bomb to provide close air support and also armed for air defense.
French Navy frigates Forbin and Jean Bart are sailing off the Libyan coast, providing support.
A French Dassault Rafale multirole combat aircraft performs during the Aero India 2011 inauguration day at the Yelhanka Air Force station in Bangalore on Feb. 9. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/ AFP via Getty Images)
This was the official report of an engagement by French combat aircraft, as the planes began patrolling Libyan airspace under U.N. Resolution 1973, adopted by the Security Council March 17.
"French Air Force air operations began this afternoon," defense ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire said.
The U.N. resolution calls for enforcing a no-fly zone against Libyan aircraft and allows coalition aircraft to attack Libyan military vehicles used against civilians, Teisseire said.
The French air deployment would allow time for other coalition countries to gather their assets and to put in place a command structure, Burkhard said.
The air operations got under way as Western and Arab leaders gathered here for a summit meeting to discuss the Libyan crisis. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States had "unique capabilities" to help enforce the no-fly zone.
"As of now, our aircraft are preventing planes from attacking the town (Benghazi)," President Nicolazs Sarkozy said after the meeting. "As of now, other French aircraft are ready to intervene against tanks, armored vehicles threatening unarmed civilians."
Some 20 aircraft including strike and multirole versions of the Mirage 2000, Rafale, C-135 tankers, Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) spy planes and Transall transports were involved in the operations, which were under way as the press conference was being held, Burkhard said.
"The operations are still going on," he said.
The French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier was due to leave Toulon naval base on March 20 and its fleet of Rafale and Super Etendard fighters and Hawkeye surveillance aircraft were expected to be operational within 48 hours, French officials said.
The task force will include the Dupleix and Aconit frigates and the Meuse fleet auxiliary tanker.
The French defense ministry emphasized its speedy response, 48 hours after adoption of the U.N. resolution and the ability to project force in a complex air operation and in such volume.
The first combat aircraft, four Rafales, took off at 11 a.m. from Saint-Dizier-Robinson Air Base to assure the interception mission over Benghazi, an area of 150 km by 100 km. They were refueled in the air and directed by the AWACS aircraft, which flew from Avord air base. Two other Rafales flew reconnaissance missions, one equipped with the Reco NG intelligence gathering pod. Six C135 inflight refueling tankers from Istres air base took part in the operations.
Two Mirage 2000D fighter-bombers took off from Nancy air base, and two Mirage 2000-5 multirole aircraft flew from Dijon to perform ground strike and escort missions.
A patrol of two Rafales from Saint Dizier was equipped with the Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) smart bomb to provide close air support and also armed for air defense.
French Navy frigates Forbin and Jean Bart are sailing off the Libyan coast, providing support.
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