Rebels in Libya say NATO hits ineffective
Source: Agencies |
April 7, 2011, Thursday
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THE French foreign minister defended NATO airstrikes in Libya against mounting rebel complaints yesterday, saying it has become hard to distinguish Moammar Gadhafi's forces from civilians and friendly forces.
The rebels say the alliance has been slow to launch airstrikes against government troops on the eastern front lines and that allowed the opposition to be routed from the oil port of Brega.
"NATO is not doing their job, the airstrikes are late and never on time. NATO is not helping us. Gadhafi still gets ammunition and supplies to his forces, that's why he is pushing us back," said Mohammed Abdullah, 30, a former member of Gadhafi's army who has joined the rebel side. "We don't know what he would be able to do if there are no airstrikes."
NATO last week took control over the international airstrikes that began on March 19 as a United States-led mission. The airstrikes thwarted Gadhafi's efforts to crush the rebellion in the North African nation he has ruled for more than four decades, but the rebels remain outnumbered and outgunned and have had difficulty pushing into government-held territory even with air support.
Abdel-Fattah Younis, chief of staff for the rebel military and Gadhafi's former interior minister, blamed NATO's bureaucratic procedures for eight-hour delays between the time the rebels inform NATO of enemy targets and when its attack planes arrive overhead.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the situation has become increasingly complicated because Gadhafi's forces are positioning themselves in heavily populated civilian areas to make targeting difficult.
"The military situation in the field is confused and uncertain and the risk of engulfing exists," he said.
The rebels say the alliance has been slow to launch airstrikes against government troops on the eastern front lines and that allowed the opposition to be routed from the oil port of Brega.
"NATO is not doing their job, the airstrikes are late and never on time. NATO is not helping us. Gadhafi still gets ammunition and supplies to his forces, that's why he is pushing us back," said Mohammed Abdullah, 30, a former member of Gadhafi's army who has joined the rebel side. "We don't know what he would be able to do if there are no airstrikes."
NATO last week took control over the international airstrikes that began on March 19 as a United States-led mission. The airstrikes thwarted Gadhafi's efforts to crush the rebellion in the North African nation he has ruled for more than four decades, but the rebels remain outnumbered and outgunned and have had difficulty pushing into government-held territory even with air support.
Abdel-Fattah Younis, chief of staff for the rebel military and Gadhafi's former interior minister, blamed NATO's bureaucratic procedures for eight-hour delays between the time the rebels inform NATO of enemy targets and when its attack planes arrive overhead.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the situation has become increasingly complicated because Gadhafi's forces are positioning themselves in heavily populated civilian areas to make targeting difficult.
"The military situation in the field is confused and uncertain and the risk of engulfing exists," he said.
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