Marine jets involved in Libya airstrikes - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Marine jets involved in Libya airstrikes

North Carolina-based Marine attack jets launched airstrikes against Libyan ground forces early Sunday, officials said in a news release.

The AV-8B Harriers, operating from the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge off the coast of North Africa, are assigned to Camp Lejeune’s 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The strikes, aimed at stemming the offensive launched against rebel forces by longtime Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, also included French aircraft, according to reports.

“Protecting the innocent and conducting combined operations are what we are designed to do,” Col. Mark J. Desens, the MEU’s commanding officer, said in the news release. “Our forces are doing both as part of the U.S. commitment to protect Libyan citizens.”

The MEU is assigned to Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn, established by U.S.

Africa Command as part the international response to the uprising in Libya. The United Nations passed a resolution authorizing “all necessary measures” to protect Libyan civilians, the news release said.

The task force is led by Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III.

The 26th MEU deployed in August. It is scheduled to be replaced soon by 22nd MEU, also out of Lejeune, which announced last week it was deploying to the Mediterranean region ahead of schedule.