French strikes hit air base in Libyan interior

[March 24, 2011]  PARIS (AP) -- French airstrikes have hit a Libyan air base in the interior of the country, a military official said Thursday.

The French strikes overnight hit a base about 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of the Libyan coastline, French military spokesman Thierry Burkhard told reporters in Paris on Thursday.

Burkhard did not specify the town or further location of the target. He said military officials are still analyzing the damage, but said the results would be confidential.

French forces have flown 30 planes over Libya in the last 24 hours, he said.

France fired the first strikes in the international campaign and led the diplomatic push for a no-fly zone to protect civilians from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces, though U.S. forces have used heavier firepower.

The U.N. Security Council authorized the no-fly zone to protect Libyan civilians after Gadhafi launched attacks against anti-government protesters who wanted him to leave after 42 years in power.

[Associated Press]

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