First Libyan No Fly Zone shots fired by French

March 19 - French Air Force Rafales, equipped with Reco NG reconnaissance pods, have flown extensive reconnaissance missions over Libya

Later in the day, a French Air Force Rafale, operating over Benghazi in Libya, dropped AASM bombs on a column of pro-Gaddafi tanks, destroying 4 of them, this was the first offensive action taken as part of the No Fly Zone.

A total of twenty French aircraft were involved in operations today around Libya including: 8 Rafales, 2 Mirage 2000-5's, 2 Mirage 2000D's, 6 C-135 tankers and an E-3F AWACS.

French and Unites States aircraft carriers are also making their way towards Libya.

A MiG-23 fighter, believed to be operating for the rebel forces, was shot down over Benghazi during the morning, it is thought that the rebels shot down their own aircraft.

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