"why coalition needed to use B2s from its US homebase?"
And stand off submarine and Tornado launched cruise missiles. The continued use of such weapons could well raise great concern and put at risk UN support particulary from the Arab World and those in the Security Council who chose to abstain from Resolution 1973.
Of course, you chaps would have been at the front of the queue to conduct SEAD missions, using direct line-of-sight weapons from a non-stealth platform, just to satisfy a small bunch of hand-wringers at home, I suppose? Bear in mind that the early French missions were conducted around Benghazi, where the air defences are presumably under rebel control.
Meanwhile, it looks like the IADS-denial phase is drawing to a close...
MoD stating that Typhoon has flown its first combat missions over Libya - congrats chaps! Shame there's nothing left to shoot though...
Link (Telegraph Live at 21:03)
The statement also says that Tornado GR4s landed at Gioia after Monday's mission; the Telegraph's photo below shows a GR4 departing Marham loaded with a Litening pod, 2 x PW4 and a Brimstone launcher (ie the same fit as used on HERRICK) with 2250l tanks and an ECM pod.
