Operation Odyssey Dawn. U.S. Tomahawk Missiles Landed Around Tripoli & Misrata...SOME CASUALTIES.

Official: U.S. fires on Libyan air defenses

From Chris Lawrence, CNN Pentagon Correspondent

March 19, 2011 4:01 p.m. EDT

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• U.S. Tomahawk missiles land around Tripoli and Misrata, official says
• Gadhafi has failed to comply with cease-fire
• "The U.S. will be at the front end" of a multiphase approach, official says

(CNN) -- The U.S. military launched its first airstrikes on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's air defenses, a senior military official said Saturday.

U.S. Tomahawk missiles landed in the area around Tripoli and Misrata, the official said, adding that the action was taken after Gadhafi failed to comply with a cease-fire.

"He's clearly been on the offensive," the official said of Gadhafi. "He said that he was going to do a cease-fire and he continued to move his forces into Benghazi."

The attacks on Gadhafi's forces will be part of a multiphase approach in a sequential and deliberate manner, according to the official.

"The U.S. will be at the front end of this, providing the unique capabilities that the U.S. has," the official said.

MENTIONS ON TWITTER...

Koreman : RT @ksnavarra: #Gaddafi troops reportedly terrorising population as they run for cover from #US #UK missiles

BreakingNews : Pentagon official says military operation intended to set the conditions to enforce the "No Fly Zone'

blakehounshell : Bomb-damage assessment will take "anywhere from 6-12 hours"; need to bring in Global Hawk drones and then "national technical means"

Reuters : FLASH: U.S. official says over 20 sites targeted in coalition strikes against Libya

BreakingNews : Pentagon official: No U.S. aircraft over Libya at this time

blakehounshell : Tomahawks were not launched until after the French bombing missions

blakehounshell : Love the Pentagon-speak: "We bring unique capabilities in command and control and logistics"

HuffingtonPost : U.S. launches missile strikes inside Libya http://huff.to/hkzzjJ

BreakingNews : Pentagon official: Over 110 Tomahawk missiles from U.S., British ships and submarines struck Libyan targets

PeterMcSowfte : RT @cnnbrk: Pentagon: 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired on #Libya from U.S., British ships. http://on.cnn.com/grO2Tz

meglanker : Libya is now the target of “Operation Odyssey Dawn” Pentagon: US currently in charge of the mission; expect... http://tumblr.com/xor1tlq9i6

elvipal : RT @sultanalqassemi: Pentagon: This is just the first phase of what will be a multi-phase international operation urged by Libyans & Arabs. #Libya

laz000 : RT @spooney35: It's A shame: RT @dhinojosaxtreme: 110 TomahawkMissles hit #Libya already? That's 62.590 million dollars, or salaries for 1490 teachers.

joshtheboiler : RT @BreakingNews: Pentagon official: Over 110 Tomahawkmissiles from U.S., British ships and submarines struck Libyan targets

Tonitone : RT @mauricioquiros: Aljazeera: Libyan state TV says warplanes hit civilian targets in the capital Tripoli causing casualties. http://bit.ly/dSkb1C

ineurope : French air raids and US Tomahawk missiles pounded targets in Libya today, in an international campaign to preven... http://bit.ly/icdPuC 

asb72 : Pentagon: 112 cruise missiles were launched from US and UK ships and subs, hitting 20 targets in Libya.

WildeJunkie : RT @actionforplanet: US Spokesman has said there are 25coalition naval ships stationed in the Mediterranean sea.

SahriUniQ : !!! RT @KryssieIsLove: Wait, what?! Why?? RT @wsvn: Pentagon: 112 cruise missiles launched from US and UK ships and subs, hitting 20 sites

SarabiaPolitics : RT @NBCNews: Pentagon calling strikes Operation Odyssey Dawn. #Libya