Low-flying drones take off to target Gaddafi tanks amid stalemate fears

Published on Friday 22 April 2011 17:54

AMERICA's top military commander has warned that the war in Libya is quickly turning into a stalemate as attacks on Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's forces were stepped up with the launch of unmanned drones.

Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested that even though up to 40 per cent of Col Gaddafi's forces have now been destroyed, the two sides in the civil war are now becoming dug in with the country split between the rebels in the east and pro-Gaddafi forces in the west.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We have heard what Admiral Mullen said but we are not commenting on it at the moment."

The US announced it was now attacking Col Gaddafi's forces with unmanned planes in an attempt to break the deadlock.

The use of the drones appeared to be mainly designed to support besieged rebels in the city of Misrata, one of the few anti-Gaddafi territories in the west of the country, who have been under heavy attack for more than a month.

The allies have struggled to provide air support for rebels in the city because of the potential of hitting civilians.

As a result, rebels have complained that Nato airstrikes since 4 April - when the US handed over control of the operation to the military alliance - have been largely ineffective in stopping Col Gaddafi's forces.

But drones, which fly lower, are more accurate and can be used with greater precision to take out Col Gaddafi's tanks.

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US Marine General James Cartwright said the drones "are uniquely suited for urban areas" with their ability to counteract the pro-Gaddafi forces' tactic of travelling in civilian vehicles that are difficult to distinguish from those of rebel forces. The first mission was flown on Thursday, but the aircraft - armed with Hellfire missiles - turned back due to poor weather without firing any of its munitions.

Meanwhile, former Republican presidential candidate John McCain yesterday put more pressure on the Obama administration, along with Britain and France, to increase military support, including providing weapons, training and giving close air support to oust Col Gaddafi.

Senator McCain said at a news conference in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in eastern Libya that he did not believe ground troops are in order.

But he said: "We need to urgently step up the Nato air campaign to protect Libyan civilians, especially in Misrata. We desperately need more close air support and strike assets."

The Gaddafi regime made it clear it believes the international allies are preparing to send troops into Misrata to break the stalemate.

The government will "unleash hell" if foreign troops enter the city said a spokesman.