French force in Libya is 20 planes so far, first strike near Benghazi

France has as many as 20 warplanes operating over Libya at the moment, a French military source said on Saturday, operating in an area some 100 km by 150 km around the rebel stronghold of Banghazi.
The French force comprised an AWACS reconnaissance plane, as well as Rafales and Mirages attack aircraft. President Nicolas Sarkozy said French aircraft and Western air forces, with Arab League approval, were preventing Libyan planes attacking Benghazi and were ready to hit Libyan tanks on the ground.
Reports suggested that French aircraft had destroyed their first target, pro-Ghaddafi ground vehicles.
“As of now, our planes are preventing air attacks on the city of Benghazi,” he said adding that military action supported by France, Britain, the United States and Canada and backed by Arab nations could be halted if Gaddafi stopped his forces attacking. French planes were also ready to strike Libyan tanks.
“It's a grave decision we've had to take,” Sarkozy said after meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other leaders in Paris.
“Along with our Arab, European and North American partners, France has decided to play its part before history.”
Sarkozy said of the meeting: “Those taking part agreed to put in place all necessary means, especially military, to enforce the decisions of the United Nations Security Council.
“This is why, in agreement with our partners, our air forces will counter any aggression by Colonel Gaddafi's aircraft against the population of Benghazi,” he said.
“As of now, other French aircraft are ready to intervene against armoured vehicles which threaten unarmed civilians.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who opposes military action, was also present and said afterwards that Berlin also agreed that violence in Libya must end.
Sarkozy, briefing reporters but taking no questions, said: “Colonel Gaddafi has scorned our warnings. In the past few hours his forces have intensified their murderous offensive.”
“The Libyan people need our aid and support. It's our duty,” Sarkozy said.
“In Libya, a peaceful civilian population that is seeking only to be able to choose its own destiny has found itself in mortal danger. It's our duty to respond to their appeal,” he said.
“Today we are intervening in Libya under the U.N. mandate with our partners and notably our Arab partners. We are doing it to protect the civilian population from the murderous madness of a regime that in killing its own people has lost all legitimacy.
“There is still time for Colonel Gaddafi to avoid the worst, by acting without delay and without reservations in accordance with all the demands of the international community. The door of international diplomacy will open again the moment attacks end.”