| | | Defense News - Libya | | Thursday, March 17, 2011, 06:30 PM | | | | The United States has signalled stronger support for a no-fly zone over Libya. | | | | The United States has signalled stronger support for a no-fly zone over Libya. Washington has been reluctant to back such a measure, but senior US officials seem to be toughening their stance, and are encouraging the UN to back not just a no-fly zone, but also air strikes against Libyan tanks and heavy artillery. | | Libyan rebel fighters run for cover as a bomb dropped by a Kadhafi loyalist Airforce fighter jet
| | US Undersecretary of State William Burns has said he hopes a resolution that includes, but is not limited to a no-fly zone could be passed on Thursday. Libyan rebel forces say there’ve been a number of government air strikes on the outskirts of Benghazi but there are no reports of any damage being caused. France, which has been pushing hard for such a measure to be taken, is also confident there is enough support in the UN Security Council for a no-fly zone. An Arab League envoy has said two Arab states would join the no-fly zone and indicated that “maybe” those countries were the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. | | | | | | |