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NATO uses helicopters to strike Libya targets
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British and French attack helicopters have been deployed to strike inside Libya for the first time. On Saturday, the helicopters were used to strike targets in the oil port of Brega. UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox described the use of the helicopters as a continuation of the military operation against Gaddafi's troops.
The British Ministry of Defense has released gun-sight video of what it said were air attacks on two targets near the eastern oil city of Brega in the early hours of Saturday.
The Apaches helicopters targeted a radar installation and a military checkpoint.
The video was released after British and French attack helicopters were used for the first time in NATO's campaign in Libya.
The British Ministry of Defense said their helicopters took off from HMS Ocean, stationed off the Libyan coast, and returned safely after completing their mission in the early morning hours.
![This image taken from video and made available by the British Ministry of Defense shows British Apache helicopters on deck of the HMS Ocean in the Mediterranean Sea, off Libya on Saturday June 4, 2011. [CNTV]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20110605/0014222d98500f5578aa07.jpg "This image taken from video and made available by the British Ministry of Defense shows British Apache helicopters on deck of the HMS Ocean in the Mediterranean Sea, off Libya on Saturday June 4, 2011. [CNTV]") |
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This image taken from video and made available by the British Ministry of Defense shows British Apache helicopters on deck of the HMS Ocean in the Mediterranean Sea, off Libya on Saturday June 4, 2011. [CNTV] |
UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox says the deployment of the helicopters does not mean that the attacks using fighter jets have been a failure.
Liam Fox said, "It's not plan B at all, the use of the attack helicopters is a logical extension of what we have already been doing. We already have fast jets in action, this gives us a chance to target new targets in a way we weren't able to do. Last night for example, we were able to attack a military post and radar installation, carefully worked through the targeting set with NATO, this a continuation, what it does show is our willingness to use the range of assets we have."
Also near Brega, British Royal Air Force aircraft destroyed a military communications installation, as well as ammunition bunkers at the large Waddan depot in central Libya.
