Framework

Capturing the world through photography, video and multimedia

Misrata, Libya — Libyan rebels fire at Moammar Kadafi's forces as they approach on Misrata's western front line.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ZOHRA BENSEMRA / Reuters

Misrata, Libya — A Libyan rebel mourns for his brother and comrade, killed during clashes with forces loyal to Moammar Kadafi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ZOHRA BENSEMRA / Reuters

Benghazi, Libya — Rebel volunteers crawl through mud during an exercise that's part of the three weeks of military training they'll get before going to the front lines to fight Moammar Kadafi's forces.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Rodrigo Abd / Associated Press

Ajdabiya, Libya — A pair of rebel fighters pray near a checkpoint.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Rodrigo Abd / Associated Press

Misrata, Libya — Libyan rebel fighters prepare their machine gun at Misrata's western front line. Forces loyal to Moammar Kadafi shelled neighborhoods in the west and south of Misrata on Monday, a rebel spokesman and a witness said, adding that explosions were also heard in the port area. Rebels say they have pushed Kadafi's forces 25 kilometers from the center of the city after weeks of street fighting and bombardment.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ZOHRA BENSEMRA / Reuters

Dehiba, Tunisia — A Libyan refugee is silhouetted against her tent at a refugee camp in Dehiba, near the southern Libyan and Tunisian border crossing of Wazin, where an estimated 20,000 refugees have found shelter.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ZOHRA BENSEMRA / REUTERS

Benghazi, Libya — Mourners grieve during the funeral of rebel Ahmed al-Barasi, who they say was killed by forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Esam Fetori / Reuters

Misurata, Libya — A Libyan rebel shoots into a basement, trying to dislodge government loyalist troops during house-to-house fighting Wednesday on Tripoli Street. The image is thought to be among the last filed by Chris Hondros before he was wounded in an explosion that also killed photojournalist Tim Hetherington.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Chris Hondros / Getty Images

Misrata, Libya — A Libyan rebel celebrates in relief after crossing a street that has been at the center of clashes with fighters loyal of Moammar Kadafi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ODD ANDERSEN / AFP/Getty Images

Ajdabiya, Libya — A wounded Libyan rebel falls after he was shot in the head during a firefight.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MARWAN NAAMANI / AFP

Port Brega, Libya — Rebel fighters react after a rocket strike by Kadafi loyalist forces at the front lines.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — Rebel fighters run through a cloud of smoke and dust after a rocket strike by Kadafi loyalist forces.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — Rebel fighters make their way to the front.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — A rebel fighter is carried to an ambulance after accidentally shooting himself.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — A trio of field doctors walk arm in arm to their ambulance.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — As directed by the Koran, a rebel fighter washes his face, hands and feet before praying.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — Rebel fighters pause to pray.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — Rebel fighters swarm around a vehicle ridden by Gen. Abdul Fatah Younis, who made an unannounced visit.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — Col. Mohammed Hamis, front, and Gen. Abdul Fatah Younis are swarmed by rebel fighters as they make an unannounced visit.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — Rebel fighters dance, chant and fire weapons into the air after being buoyed by a surprise visit from Gen. Abdul Fatah Younis.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — Gen. Abdul Fatah Younis greets rebel fighters. Younis, a former interior minister and ex-commander of the special forces, has been challenged by another former Kadafi confidant, Khalifa Hefter, as leader of the rebel forces.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — Rebel fighters dance, chant and fire weapons into the air during Younis' visit.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — A tank abandoned by pro-Kadafi forces is blown up by rebels as they retreat.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — A rebel fighter throws up his arms in frustration as the rebels' ragtag army retreats from the oil town, which fell to rapidly advancing Kadafi loyalists.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — A fighter watches from the roadside as fellow rebels retreat. Pro-Kadafi forces had pushed them back more than 200 miles in two days.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — Rebel fighters retreat with their weaponry.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — Rebel fighters chant "God is great!" in an attempt to rally sagging morale on the long retreat from Bin Jawwad, west of Port Brega.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Liba — Rebel fighters evacuate a wounded comrade from the hospital in Ajdabiya, which was reportedly under assault by pro-Kadafi forces late Wednesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Liba — Rebel fighters assist a disabled man to flee as Kadafi loyalists closed in on Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Liba — Civilians flee as pro-Kadafi forces advanced on Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — Rebel fighters take up positions around Bin Jawwad, where they engaged forces loyal to Moammar Kadafi in an intense fight before retreating by late afternoon.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — A fighter's weapon is decorated with the tricolor flag adopted by the Libyan rebels.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — Rebel fighters under attack by government forces are in retreat.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — Libyan rebel fighters are on the run as government forces retake territory.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — A Libyan rebel fighter cools off after retreating from Bin Jawwad.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ras Lanuf, Libya — Libyan rebel fighters collect the last remaining drops of gasoline from the tanks of a filling station.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — A fighter looks back toward Bin Jawwad as he joins a rebel exodus.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — Retreating rebel fighters pack a pickup leaving Bin Jawwad.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — Rebel fighters take up positions around Bin Jawwad, where they engaged forces loyal to Moammar Kadafi in an intense fight before retreating by late afternoon.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — A fighter's weapon is decorated with the tricolor flag adopted by the Libyan rebels.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — Rebel fighters under attack by government forces are in retreat.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — Libyan rebel fighters are on the run as government forces retake territory.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — A Libyan rebel fighter cools off after retreating from Bin Jawwad.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ras Lanuf, Libya — Libyan rebel fighters collect the last remaining drops of gasoline from the tanks of a filling station.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — A fighter looks back toward Bin Jawwad as he joins a rebel exodus.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — Retreating rebel fighters pack a pickup leaving Bin Jawwad.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — A rebel gun truck rolls past a burning bus toward the front line.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — Rebel fighters set up positions on the front line as they prepare for a push toward Surt.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — A rebel is swarmed by comrades as he distributes cigarette packs from the back of a pickup truck.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — A pre-Kadafi national flag partially obscures a rebel fighter rolling to the front line.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — A rebel fighter distributes supplies on the front line.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — Rebels pull back from the front line as the sun sets.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ras Lanuf, Libya — Rebels begin to withdraw from Bin Jawwad back to Ras Lanuf at dusk.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Bin Jawwad, Libya — A rebel gun truck pulls back from Bin Jawwad under a smoky sunset.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — Curiosity seekers check out a burned-out tank belonging to Kadafi loyalists on the outskirts of Ajdabiya on Sunday. Emboldened by the help of allied air cover, rebel forces have begun moving towards Surt, a Kadafi stronghold west of Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Libya — A Libyan rebel fighter on the road to Ras Lanuf on Sunday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Port Brega, Libya — An army boot left behind by retreating Kadafi loyalist forces sits amid the trash in the streets of Port Brega on Sunday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ras Lanuf, Libya — A rebel fighter tucks a cocked semiautomatic pistol into his waistband in Ras Lanuf on Sunday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Uqaylan, Libya — Rebel fighters set up a checkpoint in Uqaylah as they move west toward Ras Lanuf on Sunday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

A car motors through Port Brega, a strategic oil city that rebels retook from Kadafi loyalist forces with little resistance on Sunday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Rebel fighters scavenge for weapons and ammunition at an abandoned Kadafi loyalist forces position in Ras Lanuf.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

A rebel fighter pauses to pray in a bullet-riddled cafe in Uqaylah as opposition forces move west toward Surt, the hometown of Libyan dictator Moammar Kadafi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Rebel fighters appropriate ammunition left behind by retreating Kadafi loyalist forces in Ras Lanuf.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

A rebel fighter takes ammunition left by retreating Kadafi loyalist forces in Ras Lanuf.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

The remains of a Kadafi loyalist forces supply truck shredded by shrapnel rests along the road to Ras Lanuf.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — A fighter climbs aboard a burning government tank after rebels retook Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — A boy in Benghazi's central square celebrates the rebel victory in Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — A government helmet lies on the ground near a burning tank after the rebel victory in Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — Men bag the body of a fallen fighter on the outskirts of Ajdabiya after it was retaken by rebels.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — Bullet holes pockmark the image of a pre-Kadafi flag painted on a wall in Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — Rebels joyride in a jeep abandoned by retreating Kadafi loyalist forces in Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — A hospital employee puts the body of a rebel fighter into a morgue chamber in Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — A rebel fighter celebrates the retaking of Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — A rebel fighter armed with a rocket-propelled granade and assault rifle and a guitar entertains comrades with a patriotic song he composed.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — A rebel fighter has a pre-Kadafi national flag in the barrel of his gun.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — Rebel fighters run for cover as a rocket explodes about a 100 yards down the road.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — A wounded rebel fighter screams in pain as comrades evacuate him from the battlefield.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — A rebel fighter stands atop a damaged tank.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — Rebel fighters stock up on provisions of boiled eggs, bread and canned tuna on the front line.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — Rebel fighters pause to pray at the front line.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — A rebel fighter counts ammunition rounds.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — A girl dressed in Friday finery walks past the Wall of Martyrs at the city courthouse after Friday prayers.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — Youths hold a rally after Friday prayers.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — Youths drag an image of Moammar Kadafi through the streets.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — A billboard features a portrait of national hero Omar Mukhtar against a pre-Kadafi national flag. Mukhtar led a war of independence against colonial ruler Italy in the 1930s and is revered as the "Lion of the Desert."

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

A photo from the French Ministry of Defense shows Mirage 2000 Ds in flight during military operations in Libya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: French Ministry of Defense

Tripoli, Libya — Libyan mourners attend the funeral of people said to be killed in airstrikes by coalition forces last night, at the martyrs' cemetery.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: STR / Reuters

Ajdabiya, Libya — Libyan rebels take cover as a tank shell explodes nearby.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

Benghazi, Liba — The shadow of flag-waving Libyan youths falls on a graffiti-splattered wall in the opposition stronghold.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Gioia del Colle, Italy — A Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 jet, as seen through night-vision optics, arrives at Gioia Dell Colle airbase for action in Libya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SAC Neil Chapman / Ministry of Defense

Ajdabiya, Libya — A Libyan rebel is seen inside a tank near Ajdabiya. Forces loyal to Moammar Kadafi have encircled the town.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

Benghazi, Libya — People look at a U.S Air Force F-15E fighter jet after it crashed near Benghazi Tuesday. The fighter jet crashed in Libya overnight after apparent mechanical failure, but its crew were safe, a spokesman for the U.S. military Africa Command said on Tuesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Suhaib Salem / Reuters

Tripoli, Libya — A Libyan man flashes the victory sign as he stands amid the rubble of a navy facility that was hit by a coalition airstrike in Tripoli, Libya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mohamed Messara / EPA

Zwitina, Libya — Libyan rebels retreat as mortars from Moammar Kadafi's forces are fired at them on outskirts of Ajdabiya, Libya, Tuesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Anja Niedringhaus / Associated Press

Zuwaytinah, Libya — A rebel fighter rolls toward the front lines in Zuwaytinah, Libya, Tuesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Zuwaytinah, Libya — Rebel fighters load a wounded man into an ambulance Tuesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Zuwaytinah, Libya — Rebel fighters set up at a checkpoint in Zuwaytinah on Tuesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Zuwaytinah, Libya — Rebel fighters at a checkpoint Tuesday. Airstrikes by Western warplanes have forced the government troops back and bolstered rebels.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Zuwaytinah, Libya — With guns in reach, a rebel fighter prays by the side of the road in Zuwaytinah Tuesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — A man kisses a frightened child as he sits on the gun of a damaged armored vehicle on the outskirts of Benghazi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — Men scavenge for battlefield souvenirs along a stretch of highway on the outskirts of Benghazi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Zuwaytina, Libya — A Libyan rebel celebrates atop a smoldering tank belonging to Moammar Kadafi's forces in Zuwaytinah, a village east of Ajdabiya, where Kadafi loyalists temporarily halted their retreat.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — A rebel fighter fires his weapon from atop a destroyed government tank.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — A rebel fighter joins scores of residents milling around the wreckage of government military vehicles littering the highway.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — A rebel fighter in the back of a passing pickup truck weeps over casualties. Despite Western airstrikes, government forces continued to battle rebels as they retreated to Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Zuwaytina, Libya — A man stops to embrace rebel fighters along the highway in Zuwaytinah, near Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — Residents take photos of a damaged government tank on the outskirts of the city. Airstrikes by warplanes from France, Britain and the United States inflicted heavy casualties and damage to Kadafi forces.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — Men try to console a youth weeping for the dead at a hospital.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Benghazi, Libya — A youth cries for a dead relative at a hospital. Despite Western airstrikes, forces loyal to Moammar Kadafi continued to battle rebels as they retreated to Ajdabiya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ajdabiya, Libya — Libyan rebels duck for cover behind a sand dune during a failed attempt Monday to take the town of Ajdabiya from Moammar Kadafi's forces.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: PATRICK BAZ / AFP

Ajdabiya, Libya — A rebel aims at a suspected Kadafi supporter as other rebels try to intervene near Benghazi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: GORAN TOMASEVIC / Reuters

Al-Wayfiyah, Libya — Libyan onlookers gather Monday at the site where forces of Moammar Kadafi were targeted the day before by a French airstrike.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: PATRICK BAZ / AFP

Ajdabiya, Libya — Libyan rebels take cover near Ajdabiya on the second day of a Western military campaign against Kadafi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: PATRICK BAZ / AFP

Benghazi, Libya — Mourners attend a Benghazi funeral of a Libyan killed by Kadafi loyalists.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SUHAIB SALEM / Reuters

Benghazi, Libya — A Libyan boy atop a destroyed Kadafi military vehicle outside Benghazi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Anja Niedringhaus / Associated Press

Cairo — Pro and anti-Kadafi demonstrators fight on the street in front of the Arab League's headquarters.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AMR ABDALLAH DALSH / Reuters

Sigonella, Italy — A U.S. Navy F-16 fighter jet based at Sigonella airbase on the Italian island of Sicily takes off Monday to take part in operations in Libya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MARIO LAPORTA / AFP

Ajdabiya, Libya — Libyan rebels carry an injured comrade.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: PATRICK BAZ / AFP

Benghazi, Libya — A rebel fighter runs for cover along a road between Benghazi and Ajdabiyah after an airstrike Sunday on forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: GORAN TOMASEVIC / Reuters

Al-Wayfiyah, Libya — A Libyan waves the rebellion flag as he stands over wrecked military vehicles belonging to Moammar Kadafi forces that were hit by French warplanes on Sunday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: PATRICK BAZ / AFP

Bebghazi, Libya — Vehicles belonging to forces loyal to Moammar Kadafi explode after an airstrike by coalition forces.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: GORAN TOMASEVIC / Reuters

Benghazi, Libya — A rebel fighter surveys burning vehicles belonging to forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi after an airstrike Sunday by coalition forces along a road between Benghazi and Ajdabiyah.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: GORAN TOMASEVIC / Reuters

Benghazi, Libya — A rebel fighter stands in front of burning vehicles belonging to Libyan government forces.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: GORAN TOMASEVIC / Reuters

Al-Wayfiyah, Libya — Libyan rebels walk past wrecked military vehicles belonging to Moammar Kaddafi forces that were bombed Sunday by the French air force in al-Wayfiyah.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: PATRICK BAZ / AFP

Al-Wayfiyah, Libya — Rebels stand over the body of a member of Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi's forces.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: PATRICK BAZ / AFP

Benghazi, Libya — A tank belonging to Libyan armed forces explodes after an airstrike campaign Sunday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: GORAN TOMASEVIC / Reuters

Mediterranean Sea — The U.S. Navy's destroyer Barry launches a Tomahawk missile from the Mediterranean Sea.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Roderick Eubanks / U.S. Navy

Mediterranean Sea — The U.S. Navy's destroyer Barry fires Tomahawk cruise missiles toward targets in Libya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Nathanael Miller / U.S. Navy

Benghazi, Libya — A warplane is seen being shot down with the pilot parachuting out of it over the outskirts of Benghazi in eastern Libya on Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Anja Niedringhaus / Associated Press

Tripoli, Libya — Tracer bullets are seen in the sky over Tripoli as heavy explosions rocked the Libyan capital early Sunday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jerome Delay / Associated Press

Oxfordshire, Great Britain — Air-to-air refueling between British aircraft is shown in this photograph made available by the British Ministry of Defence.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SAC Neil Chapman / Ministry of Defense

Tripoli, Libya — Supporters of Libya's leader Moammar Kadafi shout slogans as soldiers stand guard at Bab Al-Aziziyah in Tripoli on Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ZOHRA BENSEMRA / Reuters

Benghazi, Libya — A rebel supporter fires into the air to celebrate news of Kadafi's forces pulling back from nearby Benghazi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: GORAN TOMASEVIC / Reuters

Benghazi, Libya — Libyan rebels celebrate next to burning cars after Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi's forces were pushed back from Benghazi. Explosions shook the city in eastern Libya early Saturday while a fighter jet was heard overhead, and residents said the rebel stronghold had been under attack by Kadafi's forces.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Anja Niedringhaus / Associated Press

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U.S., allies strike targets in Libya from air, sea

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U.S., allies strike targets in Libya from air, sea

  • Posted By: Bryan Chan
  • Posted On: 9:21 a.m. | March 20, 2011

U.S., British and French forces attacked Libyan air defenses and armor on Sunday on the heels of a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding Libyan forces pull back from rebel-held areas.

Read full story.

[Updated March 21]
By Luis Sinco, Los Angeles Times

Rewind. We’re back in Benghazi after a grueling 1,000-mile, 18-hour trip from Cairo.

We hit the ground running and on Monday took a ride west toward Ajdabiya and saw a lot of burned, battered and abandoned military vehicles belonging to forces loyal to Libyan dictator Moammar Kadafi littering the desert landscape.

The stench of smoke and death hung in the air as scores of Benghazi residents toured the wreckage of an enemy in retreat, posing for pictures for friends amid the rubble and scouring the grounds for battlefield souvenirs. The scene had the feel of a county fair –  and only lacked vendors hawking food and drink by the road.

For some 75 miles west from the capital of the Libyan rebellion, tanks, trucks, buses, jeeps and cars were strewn along the highway, most charred or blown to bits, and some just left behind.

Starting Saturday, allied Western powers carried out air missions to impose a U.N.-sponsored no-fly zone over Libya with deadly efficiency. And unlike Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi’s fighter jockeys, flyboys from France, Britain and the United States are capable of hitting targets. The proof was plain to see.

Without air support, rebel forces would have lost Benghazi by now. Kadafi forces advanced, while encountering little resistance over the last three weeks, from Bin Jawwad to Ras Lanuf to Port Brega to Ajdabiya. On Saturday, they stormed the gates of Benghazi. In that same period, rebel forces proved to be really good at waving flags, driving their gun trucks up and down the highway, firing their weapons aimlessly into the air and mouthing a lot of bravado while retreating without putting up much of a fight.

But that’s not the way the rebel-led provisional government sees it. On the car radio, a would-be Benghazi Rose thanked the people of Free Libya for their strength and courage in the face of adversity. No thanks to anybody else  — and no mention of the air cover by Western powers.

During a news conference at the Libyan opposition’s media center, a spokesman hailed rebel fighters for beating back the enemy. According to him, a rebel warplane scrambled as Benghazi came under attack and its pilots single-handedly destroyed dozens of Kadafi’s tanks and armored vehicles before being shot of out the sky by friendly fire. That’s the official story and they’re sticking to it.

Thankfully, the people on the street are more in touch with reality. Rebels we met on the road to Ajdabiya expressed deep gratitude for the allied air cover. In Benghazi’s eerily empty main square, a man with a bullhorn chanted in Arabic: “Thank you America, Britain and France.” And late this afternoon, I saw a crowd of people holding aloft a large French flag as they marched around the streets of Benghazi.

At a local hospital, the mood wasn’t so upbeat as I photographed several men weeping inconsolably over the death of loved ones. Over the weekend, hundreds of people — civilians and rebel fighters alike — have been wounded and killed.

The fighting rages on. Along the road to Tripoli, the air reeks of things burning and dead.

5 Comments

  1. March 21, 2011, 12:14 pm

    LINK

    Are those sandals military issued?

    By: sweetshoes

  2. March 22, 2011, 11:27 am

    LINK

    Lol he doesn't have a grip on the front of the rifle and the stock is barely touching his shoulder, he must be a trained soldier.

    By: guest@guest.com

  3. March 22, 2011, 4:38 pm

    LINK

    dude…their just rebels

    By: josh

  4. March 23, 2011, 6:53 am

    LINK

    [...] Photos: U.S., allies launch attacks in Libya [...]

    By: Video Game Design | Video Game Schools | video game development courses

  5. March 24, 2011, 1:45 pm

    LINK

    When the US kills innocents its called "collateral damage", when everyone else on the planet does it it is called terrorism. A country without morals does not have to show contrition for its actions, no matter how horrible. You are only aiding the terrorists when you bother to mention that innocent citizens have died because of our bombs. This is the moment of american exceptionalism. Everything we do is right because we say so. The UN says its ok, so whatever we do is OK. Obama could have bothered to follow the constitution, but that is so 1700's. If you are going to support the concept of world government and domination, then you can't be bothered with outdated concepts like national sovereignty, rule of law, and the constitution. Where have you been for the last 100 years?

    By: libertyman@gmail.com

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