NATO enables attack helicopters to strike Gadhafi facilities

PanARMENIAN.Net - NATO announced Saturday, June 4, it for the first time used attack helicopters in Libya, striking military vehicles, military equipment and forces backing embattled leader Colonel Moammar Gadhafi, AFP reported.

"Attack helicopters under NATO command were used for the first time on 4 June 2011 in military operations over Libya as part of Operation Unified Protector," the Atlantic Alliance said in a statement.

"The targets struck included military vehicles, military equipment and fielded forces" of the Gadhafi regime, said the statement, without detailing exactly where the strikes had taken place. British Apache helicopters took part in the attacks, the Ministry of Defense said in London. "Yes, we confirm" their intervention, a spokeswoman said, without giving further details.

London, which has since March 19 taken part in the international coalition's operations in Libya, announced late last month it was sending in four attack helicopters to be based on HMS Ocean off the north African coast.

Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, commander in chief of the NATO mission in Libya, said "this success demonstrates the unique possibilities offered" by using combat helicopters.

"The targets struck included military vehicles, military equipment and fielded forces" of the Gadhafi regime, said the statement