Coalition Fires More Missiles at Libyan Targets, Expands No-Fly Zone

March 21, 2011

A fuel tank of a power station burns on the outskirts of the city of Ajdabiya, south of Benghazi, eastern Libya, March 21, 2011

The U.S. commander in Africa, General Carter Ham, told reporters Monday that the Tomahawk missiles targeted Libyan command and control stations, a Scud missile facility and air defense sites.

Ham said some forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi are moving away from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. "And through a variety of reports, we know that regime ground forces that were in the vicinity of Benghazi now possess little will or capability to resume offensive operations."

Speaking by video conference from his headquarters in Germany, Ham said his forces are not in contact and are not coordinating their actions with rebels in Libya who are seeking to topple Gadhafi.

"Our mandate - again, our mission - is to protect civilians from attack by the regime ground forces. Our mission is not to support any opposition forces."

Asked about an air strike on Gadhafi’s compound in Tripoli, Ham said the target was a command and control facility and not the Libyan leader. "I don't know much about the location of the Libyan leader, nor have we expended any military effort in that regard."

Ham said he expects the number of airstrikes on Libyan targets to go down as Gadhafi’s military assets are destroyed and his troops stop attacking civilians.