Key Facts
- Start date
- 19 March 2011
- First strike
- French Rafales destroyed four Libyan tanks
- Named after
- Harmattan winds blowing over the Sahara
- Coalition counterparts
- Operation Odyssey Dawn (US), Ellamy (UK), Mobile (Canada)
Strategic Narrative Overview
French Dassault Rafale multirole fighters began reconnaissance missions on 19 March 2011 and were the first coalition aircraft to strike Libyan government forces, destroying four tanks near Benghazi. France operated as part of a broader multinational coalition that subsequently transitioned command to NATO under Operation Unified Protector. Coalition air strikes enforced the no-fly zone and degraded Gaddafi's ground forces throughout the spring and summer of 2011.
01 / The Origins
During the 2011 Libyan Civil War, forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi launched military operations against anti-government rebels, prompting international concern about civilian massacres. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1973 authorising a no-fly zone and all necessary measures to protect civilians. France, alongside the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other allies, convened a conference in Paris on 19 March 2011 to coordinate immediate military action against Gaddafi's regime.
03 / The Outcome
The sustained NATO air campaign, supported by French and allied strikes, eroded Gaddafi's military capacity. Rebel forces, aided by the intervention, advanced across Libya and captured Tripoli in August 2011. Gaddafi was killed in October 2011, ending his four-decade rule. Libya entered a prolonged period of political instability and factional conflict following the collapse of the Gaddafi government, with no stable central authority emerging in the immediate aftermath.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
3 belligerents
Side B
1 belligerent