NATO plans helicopter attacks on Gadhafi
Source: Agencies |
May 24, 2011, Tuesday
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NATO plans to use attack helicopters in Libya to help break a military stalemate with forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, a French diplomatic source said yesterday.
Continued shelling of the rebel-held western outpost of Misrata illustrated the scale of the problem facing rebel forces and NATO. Rebels said Gadhafi forces were trying to advance into the long-besieged city under cover of rocket and mortar shells.
The French daily Le Figaro reported that 12 helicopters, which could launch more accurate close attacks on pro-Gadhafi forces and targets than fixed wing aircraft, were shipped out to Libya on the French warship Tonnerre on May 17.
"It is not just French helicopters ... it's coordinated action by the coalition," the diplomatic source said, in response to the newspaper report. "It is at NATO level."
The source said the move could not be considered as part of a strategy to use ground troops in the conflict, now in its fourth month.
A UN Security Council resolution allows NATO to strike Gadhafi forces in defence of civilians, but it explicitly excludes any military occupation. Critics such as Russia accuse NATO of overstepping their mandate in prosecuting a systematic campaign to force the end of Gadhafi's 41-year rule.
There was no immediate comment from NATO. A British Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We have no plans to deploy attack helicopters." French Armed Forces spokesman Thierry Burkhard declined to confirm the report.
According to Le Figaro's source, French special forces, who have been operating in Libya to help identify targets for NATO planes since the start of air strikes, could now be reinforced and deployed to guide helicopter attacks.
The use of helicopters, while it would allow NATO forces to launch closer and more accurate attacks, would pose additional risks for NATO. Helicopters would fly lower and be more vulnerable than aircraft flying well above depleted air defenses. The downing of helicopters could draw ground forces into rescue efforts.
Gadhafi describes his opponents as religious extremists, criminals and foreign-backed mercenaries. He says he has no intention of stepping down after the manner of Tunisian and Egyptian autocratic leaders overthrown in an "Arab Spring" of democratic protest that swept the Middle East.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he would meet yesterday with a Libyan "opposition" delegation in an effort to promote a cease-fire and negotiations.
He said the delegation represented the National Transitional Council and was led by Abdurrahman Shalgham, a longtime foreign minister and envoy to the United Nations until he denounced Gadhafi in February.
"It is important at this stage to agree a makeup of participants in future talks - which I hope will be soon but are inevitable in any case - that would represent the interests of all the political forces, all the tribes in Libya," he said.
The rebels have refused proposals for a cease-fire and talks from the Gadhafi administration.
Continued shelling of the rebel-held western outpost of Misrata illustrated the scale of the problem facing rebel forces and NATO. Rebels said Gadhafi forces were trying to advance into the long-besieged city under cover of rocket and mortar shells.
The French daily Le Figaro reported that 12 helicopters, which could launch more accurate close attacks on pro-Gadhafi forces and targets than fixed wing aircraft, were shipped out to Libya on the French warship Tonnerre on May 17.
"It is not just French helicopters ... it's coordinated action by the coalition," the diplomatic source said, in response to the newspaper report. "It is at NATO level."
The source said the move could not be considered as part of a strategy to use ground troops in the conflict, now in its fourth month.
A UN Security Council resolution allows NATO to strike Gadhafi forces in defence of civilians, but it explicitly excludes any military occupation. Critics such as Russia accuse NATO of overstepping their mandate in prosecuting a systematic campaign to force the end of Gadhafi's 41-year rule.
There was no immediate comment from NATO. A British Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We have no plans to deploy attack helicopters." French Armed Forces spokesman Thierry Burkhard declined to confirm the report.
According to Le Figaro's source, French special forces, who have been operating in Libya to help identify targets for NATO planes since the start of air strikes, could now be reinforced and deployed to guide helicopter attacks.
The use of helicopters, while it would allow NATO forces to launch closer and more accurate attacks, would pose additional risks for NATO. Helicopters would fly lower and be more vulnerable than aircraft flying well above depleted air defenses. The downing of helicopters could draw ground forces into rescue efforts.
Gadhafi describes his opponents as religious extremists, criminals and foreign-backed mercenaries. He says he has no intention of stepping down after the manner of Tunisian and Egyptian autocratic leaders overthrown in an "Arab Spring" of democratic protest that swept the Middle East.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he would meet yesterday with a Libyan "opposition" delegation in an effort to promote a cease-fire and negotiations.
He said the delegation represented the National Transitional Council and was led by Abdurrahman Shalgham, a longtime foreign minister and envoy to the United Nations until he denounced Gadhafi in February.
"It is important at this stage to agree a makeup of participants in future talks - which I hope will be soon but are inevitable in any case - that would represent the interests of all the political forces, all the tribes in Libya," he said.
The rebels have refused proposals for a cease-fire and talks from the Gadhafi administration.
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