A “United Nations conflict” has started.

The United Kingdom and France have taken the lead in enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya. British warplanes and French Rafale and Mirage jets have begun flying sorties over Benghazi and other parts of Libya.

A Moammar Gadhafi loyalist fighter jet was seen being shot down in an Associated Press photo dated Saturday, but it was not clear how the jet was shot down or if British or French fighters had attacked it,

French Defense Ministry spokesman Thierry Burkhard did confirm that French forces fired on a Libyan military vehicle Saturday.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Paris on Saturday for a meeting with European and Arab allies. Twenty-two countries participated in the summit.

Earlier today, government troops attacked Benghazi, the rebel capital, in defiance of Gadhafi’s own proclaimed cease-fire.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The time for action has come, it needs to be urgent,” according to the Associated Press.

About The Author

John Guilfoil is the editor-in-chief of Blast: Boston's Online Magazine and the Blast Magazine Network. He can be reached at [email protected]. Tweet @johnguilfoil.

Leave a Reply