(RTTNews) - Italian fighter jets will soon join the ongoing NATO-led airstrikes on military targets in Libya, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced following a phone conversation with US President Barack Obama.
The Italian premier's office said in a statement issued late Monday that Italy "had decided to positively reply to the requests by NATO to boost the efficiency of its military participation in the Libyan mission."
"Italy has decided to increase the operative flexibility of its planes by means of aimed actions against specific military targets belonging to Qadhafi's regime with the goal of defending the Libyan civil population," the statement added.
Italy had earlier refused to join the NATO-led airstrikes against Libyan military targets, citing its four decade-long colonial rule over the north African country. So far, the involvement of Italian warships and military aircraft in the ongoing NATO-led military mission in Libya has been limited to refueling and other support operations. Italy has also made several of its airbases available to the mission.
NATO is currently in command and control of the ongoing international military operation in Libya aimed at enforcing a U.N.-mandated no-fly zone over the oil-rich Arab country and protecting the civilians from attacks by forces loyal to Col. Moammar Qadhafi.
The operation was initially led by the United States, but the command was handed over to NATO recently. Currently, the US contribution to the mission is limited to enhancing military capabilities of the mission, including "electronic warfare", aerial refueling and advanced intelligence.
The Italian premier's office said in a statement issued late Monday that Italy "had decided to positively reply to the requests by NATO to boost the efficiency of its military participation in the Libyan mission."
"Italy has decided to increase the operative flexibility of its planes by means of aimed actions against specific military targets belonging to Qadhafi's regime with the goal of defending the Libyan civil population," the statement added.
Italy had earlier refused to join the NATO-led airstrikes against Libyan military targets, citing its four decade-long colonial rule over the north African country. So far, the involvement of Italian warships and military aircraft in the ongoing NATO-led military mission in Libya has been limited to refueling and other support operations. Italy has also made several of its airbases available to the mission.
NATO is currently in command and control of the ongoing international military operation in Libya aimed at enforcing a U.N.-mandated no-fly zone over the oil-rich Arab country and protecting the civilians from attacks by forces loyal to Col. Moammar Qadhafi.
The operation was initially led by the United States, but the command was handed over to NATO recently. Currently, the US contribution to the mission is limited to enhancing military capabilities of the mission, including "electronic warfare", aerial refueling and advanced intelligence.
Since the US handed over command of the mission to the NATO, countries like Britain, France, Canada and Qatar have been spearheading the air strikes against military infrastructures of the Qadhafi regime.
In addition to its original intention of protecting the civilian population against attacks, the operation has also assisted the Libyan rebels in their fight against the autocratic regime of Qadhafi. The rebels have been urging the NATO to intensify its operations in the wake of the brutal shelling of civilian areas in the cities of Misrata and Ajdabiya by pro-Qadhafi forces.
by RTT Staff Writer
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