News story

NATO to control Libya operation

Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has announced that NATO has agreed to take over command and control of all aspects of the current military operations in Libya.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Number 10 has welcomed the announcement as a “significant step forward as we plan for the next phase of this vital mission”.

A Downing Street spokesman said:

The UK welcomes the agreement reached today at NATO. Substantial progress has already been made in implementing UNSCR 1973: the military mission has helped to save countless civilians lives; has successfully established a no fly zone; and has helped shift the momentum on the ground against Qadhafi’s attacks on the Libyan people.

NATO is already enforcing the arms embargo and the no fly zone. Today’s agreement to transfer complete command and control of all military operations to NATO both ensures that partners from the region are able to participate and represents a significant step forward as we plan for the next phase of this vital mission.

Read more: NATO to enforce Libya no-fly zone

Published 27 March 2011