Libya

Aljazeera English is reporting that French fighter jets have destroyed 4 tanks on the outskirts of Benghazi, the center of the provisional government opposing dictator Muammar Qaddafi. The tanks were involved in a concerted attack on Benghazi launched by Qaddafi’s military Friday and Saturday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy surprised observers by announcing that French fighter […]

Libya

Qaddafi Bombards Rebel Cities, Defies UNO

Juan Cole

The government of Muammar Qaddafi is making a wideranging attempt to dominate as much of the country as possible before Western powers begin patrolling Libya’s skies with fighter jets, probably on Saturday night or Sunday. Aljazeera Arabic is reporting mid-morning Saturday Libyan time that hundreds of people have been wounded in Benghazi by the heavy […]

Egypt

Libya Threatens Mediterranean Planes, Ships if Attacked

Juan Cole

Aljazeera English reports on the eruption of delight in Benghazi at the announcement Thursday evening New York time that the UN Security Council had authorized a no-fly zone over Libya and the taking of all measures necessary to protect civilian life. The Qaddafi regime sent mixed signals after the announcement, with the deputy foreign minister […]

Libya

Eissenstat: Libya and Turkey

Juan Cole

Howard Eissenstat writes in a guest column for Informed Comment: Libya and Turkey: Ankara’s foreign policy goes off key For a while, at least, Turkey seemed to be riding high as a wave of protests swept from Tunisia to Egypt to a half dozen other states in the Middle East and North Africa. After a […]

Libya

The UN to the Rescue in Libya: Is it too Late?

Juan Cole

The United Nations Security Council has just authorized a no-fly zone over Libya and implicitly allowed the United States, France and Britain to bomb military forces and facilities loyal to Muammar Qadddafi. Aljazeera live is covering the session and is showing enormous, delirious crowds celebrating in downtown Benghazi, which Qaddafi had threatened to occupy earlier […]

Libya

Rebels Hold Key Libyan Towns as UN Considers Intervention

Juan Cole

Forces loyal to Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi launched a two-pronged attack on Tuesday and Wednesday, on Misrata near Tripoli and on Ajdabiya in the east, with an eye to controlling all major population centers from the Tunisian border to the gates of Benghazi, the center of the rebel movement. Through Wednesday into Thursday morning, the […]

al-Qaeda

Qaddafi threatens to Join al-Qaeda as his Forces advance on Rebel Strongholds

Juan Cole

As the world watches Japan, transfixed by the aftermath of a massive tsunami that has probably killed over 10,000 and left half a million homeless, attended by a crisis in a series of nuclear reactors, on the other side of the world the forces of Muammar Qaddafi are advancing on rebel cities, reducing them one […]

Libya

Qaddafi on a Roll, Rebellion Could Collapse

Juan Cole

In Libya, forces loyal to dictator Muammar Qaddafi made rapid advances against the rebels on Saturday and Sunday, pushing them out of Ra’s Lanuf, and then Uqaila, and finally claiming to take Brega. ITN has a video report: Since Brega (Marsa al-Buraiqa) is only about 150 miles from the main rebel center of Benghazi, there […]

Libya

More on Arab League Call for a Libya No-Fly Zone

Juan Cole

Aljazeera English reports on the Arab League’s call for the UN Security Council to impose a no-fly zone on Libya. Most sources are calling the resolution unanimous, but Xinhua says that Algeria and Syria abstained. Algeria has been accused by the rebels in Benghazi of helping Muammar Qaddafi.