Arab Nations to Join Air Strikes against Libya's Gaddafi

World | March 20, 2011, Sunday // 15:48|  views

France's Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier leaves the port Toulon, France 20 March 2011, for Libya. EPA/BGNES

Several Arab states – most notably the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Morocco and Qatar – are expected to joint the Western coalition imposing a no-fly zone over Libya.

Fighter jets from the UAE are expected to arrive in the Decimomannu base in Italy's Sardinia to take part in Operation Odyssey Dawn, the Western-led military strikes against the regime of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, in accordance with Resolution 1973 of the UN Security Council, the ANSA agency reported.

Operation Odyssey Dawn has been carried out by five nations so far – France, USA, UK, Italy, and Canada.

Middle Eastern leaders backed an offensive by international forces seeking to protect Libyan civilians as President Muammar Qaddafi said his country would become hell for the "monsters" attacking it.

Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasim Al Thani said the emirate will join the U.S., U.K., Canada, France and Italy against Libya, making it the first Arab country to commit military forces.

Libya was pummeled Saturday by more than 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles in the first phase of an assault dubbed "Operation Odyssey Dawn." The coalition struck after European, U.S. and Arab officials gathered in Paris yesterday to discuss the crisis. Leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar and Morocco participated in yesterday's talks.

More Western nations are joining the air strikes on the Gaddafi regime.

Spain has sent four F-18 fighter jets to Italy to take part in the operation over Libya from Sunday, the defence ministry said.

An F-100 frigate, an S-74 submarine and a CN-235 maritime surveillance plane will also be deployed to help enforce an arms embargo on Libya.

Six Danish F-16 fighter are ready to take off from Italy's Sigonella air base to join the international air campaign against Muamer Gaddafi's forces in Libya, ANSA quoted a senior Italian military official as saying Sunday.

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Tags: Arabs, Arab world, Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, Operation Odyssey Dawn, Italy, UAE, Qatar, morocco, Jordan, Spain, Denmark

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