US jet crashes in Libya; barrage continues
Posted March 22, 2011 8:27 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two American crew members ejected safely before their Air Force F-15 Strike Eagle jet malfunctioned and crashed in Libya Tuesday.
The U.S. military said both had minor injuries.
It happened after a third night of U.S. and European militaries bombarding the North African country. The air campaign that rescued the rebels from defeat by leader Moammar Gadhafi’s advancing army is now focused on widening a no-fly zone from the coast and around the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in the east across to the Tripoli area.
A senior U.S. defence official said the barrage of airstrikes and Tomahawk cruise missiles that began Saturday has reduced Gadhafi’s air forces by more than half.
But government tanks and snipers continued to attack the rebel-held city of Misrata in the west, killing as many as 40.
Gadhafi could exploit the rebels’ disorganization and – according to the lead U.S. commander, Army Gen. Carter Ham – stay in power.
The U.S. has said its role will wind down as other countries become involved and the need for large-scale offensives goes away.
