19 March 2011 Last updated at 20:48 GMT 
French Rafale jets flew reconnaissance missions over Libya on Saturday before the bombing began
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed that British planes are in action over Libya. Earlier, French planes destroyed Libyan vehicles.
Western planes bombed targets in the capital, Tripoli, said the AFP news agency, quoting witnesses and state TV.
US President Barack Obama, speaking during a visit to Brazil, said the US was taking "limited military action" as part of a "broad coalition".
"We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy," he said.
He repeated that no US ground troops would take part.
'Necessary' A British submarine has fired a number of missiles at Libyan air defence targets, the Ministry of Defence said.
Mr Cameron said that launching military action against Libya was "necessary, legal and right".
Libyan state TV reported that what it called the "crusader enemy" had bombed civilian areas of Tripoli, as well as fuel storage tanks supplying the western city of Misrata.
Sources in Tripoli told BBC Arabic that the attacks on the city had so far targeted the eastern areas of Sawani, Airport Road, and Ghasheer. These are all areas believed to host military bases.
The action came hours after Western and Arab leaders met in Paris to agree how to enforce the UN resolution, which allows "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.
A French plane fired the first shot in Libya at 1645 GMT on Saturday, destroying its target, according to a military spokesman.
French planes also flew reconnaissance missions over "all Libyan territory", military sources in Paris said earlier.
Pro-Gaddafi forces attacked the rebel stronghold of Benghazi on Saturday - although the Libyan government denied launching any assault.
The international community was intervening to stop the "murderous madness" of Col Gaddafi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.
"In Libya, the civilian population, which is demanding nothing more than the right to choose their own destiny, is in mortal danger," he warned. "It is our duty to respond to their anguished appeal."
Libya: Coalition launches attacks
French Rafale jets flew reconnaissance missions over Libya on Saturday before the bombing began The UK, the US and France have begun attacking Libya as enforcement of the UN-mandated no-fly zone gets under way.
More than 110 missiles have been fired by the UK and US, officials at the Pentagon say. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed that British planes are in action over Libya. Earlier, French planes destroyed Libyan vehicles.
Western planes bombed targets in the capital, Tripoli, said the AFP news agency, quoting witnesses and state TV.
US President Barack Obama, speaking during a visit to Brazil, said the US was taking "limited military action" as part of a "broad coalition".
"We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy," he said.
He repeated that no US ground troops would take part.
'Necessary' A British submarine has fired a number of missiles at Libyan air defence targets, the Ministry of Defence said.
Mr Cameron said that launching military action against Libya was "necessary, legal and right".
Libyan state TV reported that what it called the "crusader enemy" had bombed civilian areas of Tripoli, as well as fuel storage tanks supplying the western city of Misrata.
Sources in Tripoli told BBC Arabic that the attacks on the city had so far targeted the eastern areas of Sawani, Airport Road, and Ghasheer. These are all areas believed to host military bases.
The action came hours after Western and Arab leaders met in Paris to agree how to enforce the UN resolution, which allows "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.
A French plane fired the first shot in Libya at 1645 GMT on Saturday, destroying its target, according to a military spokesman.
French planes also flew reconnaissance missions over "all Libyan territory", military sources in Paris said earlier.
Pro-Gaddafi forces attacked the rebel stronghold of Benghazi on Saturday - although the Libyan government denied launching any assault.
The international community was intervening to stop the "murderous madness" of Col Gaddafi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.
"In Libya, the civilian population, which is demanding nothing more than the right to choose their own destiny, is in mortal danger," he warned. "It is our duty to respond to their anguished appeal."
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