Allies Target Ground Force Fighting Near Main Towns

[tekisui]

Source: Brisbane Times

WASHINGTON: The United States and its allies have shifted to ferocious air strikes on Libyan ground forces, tanks and artillery, marking the second phase of a military campaign that drew the Pentagon deeper into the fight.

More Tomahawk missiles have also been launched from a British submarine. Libya's capital, Tripoli, and the city of Sebha were under air bombardment yesterday, state television reported.

A pounding from allied warplanes in the rebel-held city of Misrata on Wednesday forced Muammar Gaddafi's troops to pull back for much of the day, residents said, but by nightfall his forces had renewed their attacks. Government tanks terrorised the city, in one instance firing a shell that landed near a hospital door.
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US military officials said the first stage of the campaign, when more than 160 Tomahawk missiles fired from ships at sea largely destroyed Colonel Gaddafi's air defences and air force, had made the skies safe for coalition warplanes. The allies were conducting stepped up attacks on ground troops, military officials said, without fear of being shot down.

more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/allies-target-ground-force-fighting-near-main-towns-20110324-1c8lz.html

[CBGLuthier]

1. No FLY. No Walk. No Breathe.