On 19 March, nineteen French Air Force aircraft entered Libyan airspace to begin reconnaissance missions, and flew over Benghazi to prevent any attacks on the rebel-controlled city.[201] Italian Air Force planes reportedly also began surveillance operations over Libya. In the evening, a French jet carried out the first Coalition airstrike, destroying a government vehicle , and followed up shortly afterward with a second airstrike that destroyed four tanks southwest of Benghazi.[202] US and British naval vessels fired at least 114 Tomahawk cruise missiles at twenty Libyan integrated air and ground defense systems.[203] Three United States B-2 Spirit stealth bombers flew non-stop from the United States to drop forty bombs on a major Libyan airfield, while other US aircraft searched for Libyan ground forces to attack.[204][205] Twenty-five coalition naval vessels, including three US submarines, began operating in the area.[206]
Libyan State TV reported that government forces had shot down a French warplane over Tripoli on 19 March, a claim denied by France.[207]
On 20 March, several Storm Shadow missiles were launched against Libyan targets by British jets.[208] Nineteen U.S. jets also conducted strikes against Libyan government forces. A loyalist convoy south of Benghazi was targeted. At least seventy vehicles were destroyed, and loyalist ground troops sustained multiple casualties.[209] Strikes also took place on the Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli from late 20 March to early 21 March.
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On 17 March, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution to impose a no-fly zone in Libyan airspace - think by that calculation, 4 hours later is not quite true....