Cameron's Plan For No-Fly Zone Over Libya

Steyr

OS, Do you think they should have sent HMS Ocean?

maquiladora

Journalists see plane bomb area southwest of Benghazi, Libya, and 2 columns of smoke in area - AFP

Libyan rebels say they retreating back towards Benghazi under attack from Gaddafi forces - Reuters witness

Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi enter rebel-held city of Benghazi - Al-Jazeera via Reuters

Just saw a plane shot down over Benghazi live on TV. Crazy.

pegasus1

just seen a gaddafi fighter jet shot out of the sky in beghazi Live on sky news...! this same fighter jet was seen flying overhead..

no coalition planes in the area!

maquiladora

To me, looks like that plane that was shot down was a Mig-23.

OS119

Steyr wrote: »

OS, Do you think they should have sent HMS Ocean?

Ocean with an AH-64 group aboard would be an astonishingly effective way of getting to grips with what looks like hard fighting within Benghazi - rather more effective than plinking tanks and pick-ups with LGB's and Brimstone from 15,000 with a Tornado GR4.

SDSR looks in tatters. thank fcuk.

looked like a MiG23/27 to me too - sharp, slim, single fin, angle and shape of the wings. brings an interesting point actually - given the err... somewhat confused nature of the opposition, its quite likely that no NATO aircraft will go below 15,000ft just to avoid being shot down by their new friends. i can't tell the difference between an a Tornado and a MiG-23/27 at 10,000ft, so why should i expect some poor bugger who thinks he's being shot at to be able to tell the difference?

looks like it'll be a 'cutting it off' job rather than 'killing it' - regime forces in the desert are goung to get fcuked, but those in Benghazi are going to have to be dealt with, by and large, by the opposition itself.

maquiladora

Libyan Mig-23 :



Unconfirmed reports that the plane might have actually been rebel-controlled and in fact shot down by Gaddafi forces.

OS119

bloody late ejection.

BrianD

The Libyan Rebels are claiming it was their plane that was shot down by Gadaffy forces.

I assume the no fly zone applies to all aircraft from either side.

According to reports Gadaffy troops are already in the Benghazi suburbs but their seems to be a lot of unverified reports from both sides.

Update: Latest claim is that the rebel operated plane developed a mechanical fault and crashed as a result.

maquiladora

French are saying that military action could begin as soon as the Paris meeting ends today. But they made similar remarks about it starting as soon as the UN vote was passed, so, pinch of salt.

Canadian F18s have departed Prestwick, heading south to Italy.

BrianD

maquiladora wrote: »

French are saying that military action could begin as soon as the Paris meeting ends today. But they made similar remarks about it starting as soon as the UN vote was passed, so, pinch of salt.

Canadian F18s have departed Prestwick, heading south to Italy.

Yes, with the pilots waving at the pre-positioned camera crews. All part of the propaganda war.

maquiladora

French TV reporting that French jets are over Libya now.

Edit : French reconnaissance planes flying over Libya - French military source

Mirage F1CR?

hmmm

"martinchulov
French air force is first into fray in #Libya. Part of the delay was to tell anxious rebel gunners not to shoot. "

Chulov has been well informed to date.

Canada has said it needs 2 days to prepare its jets before they can take part
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Canada+needs+days+prepare+jets+Libya/4471153/story.html

"French military source told AFP several Rafale jets overflew Libya today on reconnaissance missions."
This suggests the speculation on Arab TV that French jets are overhead is misreporting earlier recon missions.

Steyr

Denmark is to send six F-16 fighters for the NFZ over Libya. The military transport aircraft DAF1607 has also arrived in Theatre.

maquiladora

AP quoting a French official as saying Mirage and Rafale jets over Benghazi area, "could target tanks".

Steyr

Heavily encrypted SATCOM traffic 252.6375 MHz for the Libyan No Fly Zone.

maquiladora

French aircraft carrier CDG departing Toulon tomorrow.

BrianD

Wonder what deal was done with Quatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Leave us to sort out Bahrain?

Ironic, that these countries are all having similar domestic issues.

"martinchulov
French air force is first into fray in #Libya. Part of the delay was to tell anxious rebel gunners not to shoot. "

Would the rebels take out a no-fly enforcing plane to speed up the process? Can they be trusted?

maquiladora wrote:

AP quoting a French official as saying Mirage and Rafale jets over Benghazi area, "could target tanks".

Can they tell the difference between both sides in urban areas? Same equipment and same uniforms in use by both sides.

GarethQ

It wont be a no-fly zone for long as there are gonna be fighters bombing hard today/tomorrow.

maquiladora

Several Libyan armd vehicles destroyed by French planes.

Reports that a US cruise missile attack will follow later this evening.

GarethQ

Considering a tomahawk can take a whole town, the current position of the Libyan armys attacks on Rebels will be bombed.

BrianD

Yes the French have started their product demonstrations for future weapon sales to Libya.

Sarkohzy is obviously making up for backing the wrong horse in Tunisia,

Given their adventures in Chad and the fact that were doing joint exercises with the Libyan Air Force last October, the French probably have a greater insight into the Libyan military than most.

maquiladora

GarethQ wrote: »

Considering a tomahawk can take a whole town, the current position of the Libyan armys attacks on Rebels will be bombed.

AP: US navy planning sea-launched missile attack from Med on #Libya's coastal air defenses, one official said.

GarethQ

Even better, then more jets can storm the major cities, there should also be raids on remote areas in search of Gadafe (or w.e the spelling is)

Raging_Ninja

Took them long enough.

Given their adventures in Chad and the fact that were doing joint exercises with the Libyan Air Force last October, the French probably have a greater insight into the Libyan military than most.

Just because you don't like people doesn't mean you can ignore them. Like it or not, Libya has extensive valuable resources that the western world needs access to in order to keep moving.

GarethQ

Raging_Ninja wrote: »

Took them long enough.



Just because you don't like people doesn't mean you can ignore them. Like it or not, Libya has extensive valuable resources that the western world needs access to in order to keep moving.

Like oil

Raging_Ninja

GarethQ wrote: »

Like oil

Fighting in Libya hampers the production and transport of fossil fuels to the west, which hurts our economies. Political stability there is in the west's best interests.

Now you can go on some wild conspiracy theory rant about how its all about oil. But at the end of the day, military intervention would not have been necessary had Gadaffi done the decent thing and step aside. Instead he did what most dictators will do and tried to suppress violently the (allegedly) pro-democracy rebels. Hopefully with this UN intervention, the fighting will end soon.

maquiladora

Known French warplanes involved today :

4 x Rafales ( 2 with RECCE pods )
2 x M2000-5
2 x M2000D

hmmm

BrianD wrote: »

Yes the French have started their product demonstrations for future weapon sales to Libya. .

Terrible cynicism but probably true There are lots of reports tonight that there are human shields at several potential targets e.g Bab el Azizia, Sebha so that will complicate targeting with such a big and unwieldy coalition of countries.

maquiladora

US navy has three submarines in Mediterranean preparing for operations against Libya- us defense official to Reuters

Obama to make a statement within the hour. Wouldnt be surprised if that is timed to coincide with the start of the cruise missile attack.

BrianD

hmmm wrote: »

Terrible cynicism but probably true There are lots of reports tonight that there are human shields at several potential targets e.g Bab el Azizia, Sebha so that will complicate targeting with such a big and unwieldy coalition of countries.

The French have been tripping over themselves to get into Libya and make money. Reports had them down for 4.5 billion of arms sales along with civilian contracts. It was reported that they were going to be the first foreign user of the Rafale fighter (the irony). Plus the French were going to modernise their existing aircraft inventory.

Amazingly Sarkhozy managed to back the right horse this time. Important when you trying to be re-elected.

RagingNinja wrote:

Just because you don't like people doesn't mean you can ignore them. Like it or not, Libya has extensive valuable resources that the western world needs access to in order to keep moving.

So it's nowth to do with democracy or human rights?