U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told ABC’s “This Week” that the implementation of the no-fly zone over Libya was complete and had “eliminated” Qaddafi’s ability to attack rebel-held cities. Now the no-fly zone can be “sustained with a lot less effort,” Gates said.
In the 24 hours ending at 3:00 p.m. UT yesterday, coalition forces flew 167 sorties, or military flights, over Libya, including 88 designed to strike targets on the ground, according to an e-mail from Navy Captain Darryn James, a Pentagon spokesman. Since the Libyan operation began, the U.S. has flown 884 sorties, while coalition allies have flown 540, he said.