French Rafale jets flew reconnaissance missions over Libya on Saturday before the bombing began
19 March 2011
Last updated at 20:42 GMT
The UK, the US and France have begun attacking Libya as enforcement of the UN-mandated no-fly zone gets under way.
More than 110 missiles have been fired by the UK and US, officials at the Pentagon say.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed that British planes are in action over Libya. Earlier, French planes destroyed Libyan vehicles.
Western planes bombed targets in the capital, Tripoli, said the AFP news agency, quoting witnesses and state TV.
US President Barack Obama, speaking during a visit to Brazil, said the US was taking "limited military action" as part of a "broad coalition".
"We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy," he said.
He repeated that no US ground troops would take part.
'Necessary'
A British submarine has fired a number of missiles at Libyan air defence targets, the Ministry of Defence said.
Mr Cameron said that launching military action against Libya was "necessary, legal and right".
Libyan state TV reported that what it called the "crusader enemy" had bombed civilian areas of Tripoli, as well as fuel storage tanks supplying the western city of Misrata.
Sources in Tripoli told BBC Arabic that the attacks on the city had so far targeted the eastern areas of Sawani, Airport Road, and Ghasheer. These are all areas believed to host military bases.
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