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Africa North
Libya: 'French jet shot down over Tripoli'
2011-03-20
[Iran Press TV] A French fighter jet has reportedly been shot down in Libya after several countries agreed on a large-scale military intervention into the North African country.

Libyan state television said.
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
late on Saturday that the French warplane went down in the Njela district of the Libyan capital Tripoli, AFP reported.

However,
The essential However...
the French military swiftly denied the report.

Foreign forces launched Arclight airstrikes against Libya after officials of a number countries meeting in Gay Paree on Saturday ordered a large-scale military intervention into the country in order to end the assaults on civilians launched by Libyan ruler Muammar Qadaffy's forces.

Representatives of the United States, Britain, La Belle France, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar attended the meeting.

There have been reports that French warplanes have begun firing on Libyan government troops in the eastern city of Benghazi, which is the stronghold of anti-government forces.

The French intervention came after forces loyal to the 68-year-old Libyan ruler began closing in on revolutionaries in eastern Libya, despite a ceasefire declared by Qadaffy on Friday.

In addition, US and British forces fired a barrage of at least 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libya targeting Qadaffy's air defenses on Saturday. The missiles reportedly struck pro-government forces.

Speaking to news hounds in Brazil, US President Barack B.O. Obama said Washington is united with its international partners on the need to take action.

"Our consensus was strong and our resolve is clear. The people of Libya must be protected, and in the absence of an immediate end to the violence against civilians, our coalition is prepared to act and act with urgency," he said.

Libyan anti-government forces, inspired by revolutions that toppled authoritarian rulers in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, are fighting to unseat Qadaffy after suffering under his despotic rule for over 41 years.
Posted by:Fred

#7  By most accounts appears a Rebel MIG-23 mistakenly shot down by the Rebels.

["F TROOP'S" FORT COURAGE = FALLING SENTRY-TOWER here].

Righteous-Kick-to-Cannon-Wheel = 1.0Milyuhn, Indians = 0 versus the Tower.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2011-03-20 19:55  

#6  We'll know whether this is true soon enough if the French begin to negotiate their surrender.
Posted by: regular joe   2011-03-20 12:05  

#5  That footage of the rebel jet flaming out was over Benghazi yesterday. This article is supposedly about a plane downed over Tripoli. As far as I've seen, they haven't been hitting Tripoli with anything other than stand-off weapons - the French strikes were against the Benghazi region last night, and maybe along the coast highway?
Posted by: Mitch H.   2011-03-20 11:26  

#4  Fox reporting it was a Libyan plane flown by a rebel and downed by friendly fire.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2011-03-20 08:44  

#3  Those flaming rocks coming straight down thru' the cloud cover over Tripoli were showing very recognizable silhouettes. And whoever was flying it was burning alive and headed for a flaming grease-spot.

I dont think they were French.
Posted by: Dribble2716   2011-03-20 08:05  

#2  Libyans fly Mirage F1s.
Posted by: Oscar Spineck3066   2011-03-20 04:08  

#1  The French fly MiGs?
Posted by: gorb   2011-03-20 02:16  

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