Libya no-fly zone: Coalition firepower Published duration 21 October 2011

Military forces from around the world took part in the joint operation to enforce a UN-backed no-fly zone over Libya, aimed at protecting Libyan civilians from Col Gaddafi's troops.

Nato's Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the end of the campaign "has now moved much closer", following the death of Col Gaddafi.

France, in diplomatic terms, was one of the main promoters of UN Security Council resolution 1973 allowing the use of force, and French aircraft were the first to operate over Libya in March 2011.

The US and Britain were also key players, with a barrage of missiles launched from US and British ships and submarines as well as from the air.

While the US oversaw the start of the operation, Nato took control of all military operations on 31 March. The mission included an arms embargo, the no-fly zone and actions to protect civilians from attack or threat of attack.

Canada, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Qatar and the UAE also offered and thealso offered military support.