The first shots were fired today by Western military forces imposing a no-fly zone over Libya as the international community swung into action against Muammar Gadafy.
The show of strength against the Libyan leader began when a French jet attacked and destroyed a military vehicle belonging to his army near the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in the east of the country.
About 20 French Rafale and Mirage warplanes were sent to patrol the skies over the city after it came under assault by forces loyal to Col Gadafy in violation of United Nations resolutions.
A French armed forces spokesman said the operation involved around 20 planes and was focused on an area 100km by 150km around Benghazi.
Al Jazeera reported this evening that French warplanes also destroyed four Libyan tanks south west of Benghazi.
The strikes against Libya mark the first military action by Western powers against an Arab government since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The final decision to launch military action was taken at an emergency summit in Paris. French president Nicolas Sarkozy hosted the talks in the Elysee Palace, which were attended by British prime minister David Cameron, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon, as well as a host of other European and Arab leaders.
Along with European and North American allies, a number of Arab nations signed up to a communique pledging “all necessary action” to bring an end to the “grave and massive violations of humanitarian law” being committed by Col Gadafy against his own people.
Countries including Canada, Denmark, Spain and Norway were sending planes, while Italy said it would permit the use of airbases such as Sigonella in Sicily and Aviano in the north to launch sorties.
The launch of military operations follows Thursday’s passage of UN Security Council resolution 1973, which authorised any measures short of foreign occupation to protect civilians in Libya. The regime declared a ceasefire in response, but this appeared to have little effect on the ground, and the urgency of the situation was heightened this morning when Col Gadafy’s troops entered Benghazi, cradle of the month-long uprising against his 42-year rule.
A defiant Col Gadafy said earlier that Western powers had no right to intervene in his affairs. "This is injustice, this is clear aggression," government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim quoted him as saying in a letter to France, Britain and the UN. "You will regret it if you take a step towards interfering in our internal affairs."
The United States has insisted it will participate in rather than lead any military action. US president Barack Obama said last night he would not deploy ground troops in Libya.
Speaking during a visit to Brazil, Mr Obama said: “Our consensus was strong, and our resolve is clear. The people of Libya must be protected. In the absence of an immediate end to the violence against civilians, our coalition is prepared to act, and act with urgency.”
Mrs Clinton said in Paris that the US would bring its "unique capabilities" to bear to help its European and Canadian allies in enforcing the UN resolution. US officials were quoted as suggesting that this may involve missile attacks on Libya’s air defences by American warships stationed in the Mediterranean.
"If the international community is to have credibility ... then action must take place," Mrs Clinton told a news conference, adding that Washington had yet to decide whether to follow France in formally recognising the rebel government in Benghazi.
Mr Cameron said Col Gadafy had broken the ceasefire and the time had come for action. "What is absolutely clear is that Gadafy has broken his word, he has broken confidence and continues to slaughter his own civilians," he said. "This has to stop, we have to make him stop and make him face the consequences"
Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper said “extensive” allied aerial operations will start soon, involving his own country’s planes. A naval blockade of Libya will also be mounted, he said. “The parameters of our mission are clear, they are wide-ranging and they do not include on-the-ground action,” Mr Harper told reporters.
A warplane filmed crashing in flames over the Benghazi today appears to have been an opposition fighter accidentally shot down by its own side.
Meanwhile, residents of the rebel-held city of Misrata said government snipers were shooting people from rooftops today and the hospital could not operate on the wounded because it had no anaesthetic. Local people said there was some shelling this morning in the city - the last rebel stronghold in the west of Libya - this morning - though not as heavy as the previous day.
There were reports on Libyan state television of civilians massing as “human shields” at locations thought to be possible targets for allied air strikes.
The International Committee of the Red Cross called on all sides in Libya, including international forces, government forces and the armed opposition, to "abide strictly by the rules and principles" of international humanitarian law.
"Attacks that directly target the civilian population are strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law," director general Yves Daccord said in a statement. "That law also prohibits the use of human shields.
"Indiscriminate attacks are likewise strictly prohibited. The parties must take all precautions, including in their choice of means and methods of warfare, to avoid as far as possible harming civilians,” Mr Daccord added. He said humanitarian organisations should be granted safe access to war-affected areas "to enable medical personnel and ambulances to reach the wounded”.
German chancellor Angela Merkel - whose ambassador abstained on the UN Resolution- said that the violence in Libya must be stopped, but ruled out any German involvement in military action.
RAF Typhoon and Tornado fighters were expected to join the mission shortly, supported by British reconnaissance and air-to-air refuelling planes.
Spain is understood to have sent four F-18s and a Boeing 707 refuelling plane. Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero said he was deploying a submarine, a naval frigate and a surveillance plane to enforce an embargo on Libya.
Norway has said it is prepared to send six F-16 fighter jets.
Agencies