Operation Odyssey Dawn

A Libyan warplane is shot down over the outskirts of Benghazi in eastern Libya, Saturday, March 19, 2011. After Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi ignored the United Nations Security Council Resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, France, Britain, Italy and the United States launched a military operation to enforce a no-fly zone over Libyan territory.

Libyan rebels celebrate on a captured Government tank in the outskirts of Benghazi, Saturday, March 19, 2011. Although Libyan officials announced Friday that they would affect an "immediate cease-fire" in the wake of the U.N. resolution, Qaddafi's forces continue to shell rebel strongholds, including Benghazi in the east.

Libyan war plane is seen in flames after being hit by rebel fire over outskirts of Benghazi — AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus

On Saturday, March 19, 2011, CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark, reporting from Benghazi, said she heard a low-flying aircraft and shelling in the town. Two cars in a parking lot were destroyed. Then, the sight of a fighter plane brought down. But Clark said there were conflicting reports on whether it was a Libyan government jet or one flown by rebels.

A Libyan war plane erupts into a billowing ball of smoke and flame after being shot down in Benghazi Saturday, March 19, 2011.

A Rafale jet fighter takes off March 18, 2011, from the military air base of Solenzara in Corsica.

A rafale jet fighter takes off at the military base of Saint Dizier, eastern France — AP Photo/ ECPAD

A French Rafale jet fighter takes off at the military base of Saint Dizier in eastern France, Saturday, March 19, 2011.

Italian military personnel work on a Tornado jet fighter at the Trapani Birgi air base on the island of Sicily, March 19, 2011. Italy offered use of seven air bases to third countries to impose a no-fly zone on Libya. Italian air bases could play a key role in any military action against Libya, but the prospect of Rome's first operation since World War II against its former colony carries high risks, experts said.

A pilot lands an RAF Tornado fighter at Lossiemouth air base, March 18, 2011, in Lossiemouth, Scotland. British defense forces will help to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya after the U.N. voted in favor of a resolution that backed "all necessary measures" except a foreign occupation force to protect Libyan civilians.

An RAF Tornado flies above the Lossiemouth air base in Lossiemouth, Scotland, March 18, 2011.

Two military AWAC aircraft at the British RAF Akotiri airbase in Cyprus, March 19, 2011. Defense analysts have said the sovereign military airfield at Akrotiri could be used by the RAF to help enforce a no-fly zone over Libya to protect Libyan civilians against Col Gaddafi's offensive.

Two Royal Air Force Tornados fighter jets fly over the Lossiemouth air base at Moray, Scotland, Friday, March 18, 2011. Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron told Parliament that preparations to deploy the aircraft to air bases in the Mediterranean were already underway.

Canadian F18 Hornet fighters arrive at the air base of Trapani Birgi in the southern island of Sicily, March 18, 2011.

An F-18 Hornet jet fighter maneuvers over the NATO airbase of Birgi, near Trapani, Sicily, Italy, Saturday, March 19, 2011. Six Danish F-16 fighter jets landed Saturday at the U.S. air base in Sicily, and U.S., Canadian and Spanish F-18s flew into the region as the international military buildup mounted in Italy for action against Libya.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announcing March 19, 2011, that French fighter jets had begun military operations over the skies of Libya, in accordance with U.N. Resolution 1973.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) launches a Tomahawk missile in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn — US Navy

The guided-missile destroyer USS Barry launches a Tomahawk missile in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn, March 19, 2011. The Pentagon said 110-112 Tomahawks were launched from U.S. and British warships and submarines.

A Tomahawk is launched from the guided-missile destroyer USS Barry in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

Nathanael Miller/U.S. Navy via Getty Images

as seen through night-vision lenses aboard the amphibious transport USS Ponce, the USS Barry fires Tomahawk cruise missiles in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn, March 19, 2011.

In announcing the mission during a visit to Brazil, President Barack Obama said he was reluctant to resort to force but was convinced it was necessary to save the lives of civilians. "We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy," he said, while reiterating that no American ground troops would be sent into Libya.

A map of sites along coastal Libya targeted by NATO forces, including communication nodes and air defense systems.

Operation Odyssey Dawn was launched on March 19, which highlighted an unfortunate connection with another use of American military power in a Middle Eastern country: March 19, 2003, the day President George W. Bush initiated the American invasion of Iraq. Police detained dozens of anti-war protesters who were demonstrating outside the White House today, both to mark the 8th anniversary of the Iraq War and to plead against war in Libya.

Libyan rebels walk past wrecked military vehicles belonging to Qaddafi forces that were bombed by the French air force, in al-Wayfiyah, west of Benghazi, March 20, 2011. Dozens of government military vehicles, including tanks, were destroyed in morning air strikes by the coalition.

Libyan rebels wave their flag on top of a wrecked tank belonging to Qaddafi's forces, at the western entrance of Benghazi, March 20, 2011. The initial part of an international operation to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya "has been successful" and the government's offensive on Benghazi has been stopped, Admiral Michael Mullen said.

A jacket belonging to a Qaddafi soldier is displayed on a still-burning tank on the outskirts of Benghazi in eastern Libya, Sunday, March 20, 2011.

Curious onlookers take pictures of dead African teenagers, members of Muammar Qaddafi's forces, on March 20, 2011 in al-Wayfiyah.

Smoke billows from wrecked tanks of Qaddafi forces in al-Wayfiyah, west of Benghazi, after being hit by French warplanes, March 20, 2011.

A Libyan man prays in front of a destroyed tank, on the outskirts of Benghazi, Sunday, March 20, 2011.

Tracers from anti-aircraft fire are seen above the hotel where foreign media and government officials are staying, in Tripoli, Libya, Sunday, March 20, 2011 - the second night of international strikes.

Qaddafi's compound hit — AP Photo/Jerome Delay

Libyan soldiers survey the damage to an administrative building hit by a missile late Sunday in the heart of Muammar Qaddafi's Bab Al Azizia compound, in Tripoli, March 21, 2011. No casualties were reported.

Two Danish F-16 jet fighters prepare to land at the NATO airbase in Sigonella, Sicily, March 21, 2011. The European Union's top foreign policy official brushed aside concerns that the coalition supporting military action against Muammar Qaddafi is already starting to fracture, saying the head of the Arab League was misquoted as criticizing the operation.