In this photo made available by French Army on Saturday, combat helicopters are prepared on the deck of French Navy vessel BPC Tonnerre in the Mediterranean sea. British Apache and French attack helicopters struck targets for the first time in NATO's campaign in Libya early Saturday near a key coastal oil town, the alliance said.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague flew to Benghazi on Saturday for talks with rebels fighting to oust Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi after NATO deployed attack choppers for the first time. “We are here today for one principal reason — to show our support for the Libyan people and for the National Transitional Council, the legitimate representative of the Libyan people,” said Mr. Hague in a statement.
British Apache helicopters attacked forces loyal to Mr. Qadhafi in their first operations as part of the NAT0 air campaig. French Gazelles and Tigers were also deployed .
Britain said Apache helicopters had on Friday night attacked a radar station and a checkpoint operated by Mr. Qadhafi's forces in the strategic oil town of Brega. France said the copters destroyed about 20 targets and drew light arms fire from forces on the ground but were not damaged.In its latest operational update released on Saturday, NATO said it hit a military camp and three command and control nodes in and around Brega, 240 kilometres southwest of rebel-held Benghazi. “Attack helicopters under NATO command were used for the first time,” said the military alliance.
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