The United States bombing of Libya (code-named Operation El Dorado Canyon) comprised the joint United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps air-strikes against Libya on April 15, 1986. Image File history File links USF-111_Libya1986. ... A U.S. Air Force F-111 The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark (the nickname was unofficial for most of its lifespan, but it was officially named Aardvark at its retirement ceremony for the United States Air Force) is a long-range strategic bomber, reconnaissance, and tactical strike aircraft. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Libya. ... “Reagan” redirects here. ... Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi1 (Arabic:   ) (born c. ... An Il-76 serving Aeroflot The Ilyushin Il-76, NATO codename Candid, is a 4-engined heavy transport aircraft in widespread use in eastern Europe and Africa. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (Flogger). ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... USN redirects here. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...

Origins

The bombing raid was the conclusion of a period of escalating reciprocal actions by the United States and Libya. After years of occasional skirmishes with Libya over Libyan territorial claims to the Gulf of Sidra, and fears of alleged Libyan-supported terrorism, especially the Abu Nidala mercenary group which is stated to have claimed responsibility for the Rome and Vienna airport attacks of December 27, 1985. For unknown reasons the United States planned for a military attack on Libya. In March 1986, the United States, sent a carrier task force to the region. Libya responded by defending Libya's claim to the Gulf of Sidra. On March 24 the US destroyed Libyan radar systems and missile attack boats. Less than two weeks later on April 5, a bomb exploded in a West Berlin disco, La Belle, killing two American servicemen and a Turkish woman and wounding 200 others. The United States claimed to have obtained cable transcripts from Libyan agents in East Germany involved in the attack, but investigation did not lead to convictions, and it took over a decade before new evidence came forward that lacked sufficient evidence to tie in Gaddafi to the attack on the disco. Furthermore it is alleged that US and Israeli intelligence may have been behind the disco bombing. In one theory Mossad as described by former Mossad case worker Victor Ostrovsky in The Other Side of Deception[1], by way of a Trojan communications device, planted on the top floor of an apartment building in Tripoli by Israeli Commandos inserted by miniature submarine. The device was capable of receiving signals from Mossad and then relaying them on Libya's government broadcast channel, which the NSA later received and stated as intelligence in the Berlin Bombing. .[2], [3], [4]. Gulf of Sidra is a body of water in the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast of Libya; it is also known as Gulf of Sirte. ... Abu Nidal in 1976 in a photograph released by the Israeli Defense Forces, one of only a handful of photographs of him known to exist. ... The Rome and Vienna Airport Attacks were two major terrorist attacks carried out on December 27, 1985. ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Berlin discotheque bombing of April 5, 1986 was a terrorist attack on the West Berlin La Belle discotheque that was frequented by U.S. soldiers. ... Boroughs of West Berlin West Berlin was the name given to the western part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. ... La Belle is the name of a disco in Berlin, Germany, which was attacked with a bomb on April 5, 1986. ... GDR redirects here. ... Victor Ostrovsky (born on November 28, 1949 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a Canadian-born, Israel-raised former Mossad officer and author of 2 non-fiction books on the Mossad and two fictional spy novels. ...

President Ronald Reagan consulted with European and Arab States in regards to a further strike on Libya which occured on April 14, against the wishes of Italy, France, and Spain.[5] Eighteen F-111F strike aircraft of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying from RAF Lakenheath supported by four EF-111A Ravens of the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, from RAF Upper Heyford in England, in conjunction with twenty-seven A-6, A-7, and F/A-18 attack aircraft from the aircraft carriers USS America, USS Saratoga and USS Coral Sea on station in the Gulf of Sidra struck five targets at 02:00 on April 15, in the stated objective that their destruction would send a message and reduce Libya's ability to support otherwise subnational belligerents. The first Gulf of Sidra incident, August 19, 1981, was an incident in which two Libyan Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter fighter jets engaged two US F-14 Tomcats off of the Libyan coast. ... Combatants United States Libya Commanders Ronald Reagan Muammar al-Gaddafi Casualties 1 F-111 2 aircrew KIA Unknown 15 Libyan civilians The United States bombing of Libya (code-named Operation El Dorado Canyon) comprised the joint United States Air Force and Navy air-strikes against Libya on April 15, 1986. ... Gulf of Sidra incident (1989) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, trade unions, universities, and countries. ... “Reagan” redirects here. ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 261 days remaining. ... The General Dynamics F-111 is a medium-range strategic bomber, reconnaissance, and tactical strike aircraft designed in the 1960s. ... Statue of Liberty Wing Emblem Subdued version The 48th Fighter Wing, formerly 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, was part of the United States Air Force Third Air Force, now assigned to HQ Air Command Europe, is based at RAF Lakenheath, England and is the only F-15 unit based in Europe. ... McDonnell Douglas F-15C-42-MC Eagle Serial 86-0175 taxis for takeoff RAF Lakenheath (IATA: LKZ, ICAO: EGUL) is a NATO airfield located near Lakenheath in Suffolk, England. ... The EF-111A Raven was an electronic warfare aircraft designed to replace the elderly and obsolescent Douglas EB-66 in the United States Air Force. ... The 20th Fighter Wing (20 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. ... RAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located north-west of Bicester near the village of Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem specific to England — the anthem of the United Kingdom is God Save the Queen. See also Proposed English National Anthems. ... The A-6 Intruder is a twin-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built by Grumman Aerospace. ... The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft design that was introduced to replace the A-4 Skyhawk in US Naval service and based on the successful supersonic F-8 Crusader aircraft produced by Chance Vought. ... The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... USS Saratoga (CV-60), formerly CVB-60 and CVA-60, is the sixth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the American Revolutionary War Battle of Saratoga, was a Forrestal-class supercarrier. ... USS Coral Sea (CV/CVB/CVA-43), a Midway-class aircraft carrier, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Battle of the Coral Sea. ... Gulf of Sidra is a body of water in the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast of Libya; it is also known as Gulf of Sirte. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The United States was denied overflight rights by France and Spain as well as the use of European continental bases, forcing the Air Force portion of the operation to be flown around France and through the Straits of Gibraltar, adding 1,300 miles (2,100 km) each way and requiring multiple aerial refuelings. The attack lasted about ten minutes. Several military targets were hit and destroyed, as well as some civilian and diplomatic sites in Tripoli, notably the French embassy. Various international persons were also injured as a result of the attacks including Greeks, Yugoslavs and Italians. The Strait of Gibraltar as seen from space. ... Boom and receptacle: USAF KC-135R Stratotanker, two F-15s (twin fins) and two F-16s, on an aerial refueling training mission IAF Il-76 MD refueling two Mirage 2000 fighter jets German Luftwaffe Airbus A310 MRTT ready for refueling, shown at the Paris Air Show 2007 Aerial refueling, also... Tripoli (Arabic: طرابلس Tarābulus) is the capital city of Libya. ... A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one nation state present in another nation state to represent the sending state in the receiving State. ...

US forces and targets

[6] Wheelus Air Base (IATA: TIP, ICAO: HLLL) was an air base used by the US Air Force on the coast of Libya. ...

Libyan air defenses

The Libyan air defense network was extensive including:

• 4 Long range SA-5 Vega anti-aircraft missile units with 24 launchers.
• 86 SA-2 Volchov and Neva anti-aircraft missile units with 276 launchers.

Covering Tripoli alone were: An S-200 missile on its launcher. ... An S-75 missile on camoflaged launcher An S-75 missile in elevated position An North Vietnamese S-75 site An S-75 missile in transit A Fan Song radar (left) and what looks like a Low Blow to the right The SA-2 Guideline is the NATO reporting name...

• 7 SA-2 Volchov anti-aircraft missile units with 6 missiles launchers per unit giving 42 launchers.
• 12 SA-3 Neva anti-aircraft missile units with 4 missiles launchers per unit giving 48 launchers.
• 3 SA-6 Kub anti-aircraft missile units with 48 launchers.
• 1 SA-8 Osa-AK anti-aircraft regiment with 16 launch vehicles.
• 2 Crotale II anti-aircraft units 60 launch pads

Cold War International History Project An S-75 missile on camoflaged launcher An S-75 missile in elevated position An North Vietnamese S-75 site An S-75 missile in transit A Fan Song radar (left) and what looks like a Low Blow to the right The SA-2 Guideline is the NATO reporting name... Two S-125 dual missile launcher trailers. ... A 3M9 TEL in desert camoflage. ... An SA-8 9K33M3 TELAR w/Land Roll radars. ... Crotales are also percussion instruments. ...

Casualties

A 15-month-old girl said to have been Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's adopted daughter, Hanna, was killed and two of his sons were injured. Gaddafi himself was thought to have been the main target but, although a bomb exploded near his tent and other bombs destroyed his house in the capital, he was not harmed. In all, at least 15 civilians died in the attacks, together with an unknown number of Libyan military personnel. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi1 (Arabic:   ) (born c. ...

Two USAF captains — Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci and Paul F. Lorence — were killed when their F-111 was shot down over the Gulf of Sidra. Major Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci (1952 – April 15, 1986) born in Utuado, Puerto Rico, was an F-111F pilot in the United States Air Force. ... Captain Paul F. Lorence USAF, a weapons systems officer, was killed when his F-111F fighter-bomber was shot down in action off the coast of Libya, on April 15, 1986. ... Gulf of Sidra is a body of water in the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast of Libya; it is also known as Gulf of Sirte. ...

On December 25, 1988, Gaddafi offered to release the body of Lorence to his family through Pope John Paul II. Though Ribas-Dominicci's body was returned in 1989, Lorence's remains are believed to be still in Libyan hands. December 25 is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 6 days remaining in the year. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion Pope John Paul II (Latin: , Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan PaweÅ‚ II) born   [] (May 18, 1920, Wadowice, Poland – April 2, 2005, Vatican City) reigned as... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 2001 Theodore D. Karantsalis, a reference librarian at Miami-Dade College, enlisted the aid of Congressman Wally Herger's office to urge Libya to return Lorence's remains on behalf of his family and friends. Karantsalis also created a website and invited visitors to sign a petition to Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart seeking the return of Capt. Lorence's remains. Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Miami Dade College is one of Floridas public community colleges, located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. ... Walter William (Wally) Herger, Jr. ... A Congressman or Congresswoman (generically, Congressperson) is a politician who is a member of a Congress. ... Lincoln Diaz-Balart (born August 13, 1954), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the 21st District of Florida (map). ...

On January 27, 2005, Karantsalis filed a federal lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) against the Department of Defense and the Department of the Air Force seeking "to know where Captain Paul Lorence's remains are located." is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nearly sixty countries around the world have implemented some form of freedom of information legislation, which sets rules on governmental secrecy. ... The United States Department of Defense, abbreviated DoD or DOD and sometimes called the Defense Department, is a civilian Cabinet organization of the United States government. ... Categories: Stub | U.S. Dept. ...

Karantsalis had hoped to locate the remains before the 20th anniversary of Lorence's death.^[2]

Retaliation

There was some retaliation. Libya responded by firing several Scud missiles at US Coast Guard stations on the Italian island of Lampedusa which exploded harmlessly in the nearby sea. In Beirut, Lebanon, two British hostages held by the Abu Nidal Organization, Alec Collett and Leigh Douglas, along with an American named Philip Padfield were hanged in revenge. In addition, journalist John McCarthy was kidnapped and tourist Paul Appleby was murdered in Jerusalem. For other uses, see Scud (disambiguation). ... A coast guard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. ... The Mediterranean island of Lampedusa ( ) belongs to Italy and is the largest of the Pelagie Islands, situated 205 km from Sicily and 113 km from Tunisia. ... For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ... Created by a split from the Fatah in 1974, the Abu Nidal Organization (officially named Fatah - the Revolutionary Council) is an international organization named for its founder Abu Nidal. ... Abu Nidal (Sabri al-Banna) commanded a reputation as the worlds most brutal terrorist right up until the title was claimed by Usama bin Ladin in the late 1990s. ... John Patrick McCarthy CBE (born November 26, 1956) is a British journalist who was kidnapped by terrorists in Lebanon in April 1986, and held hostage for more than five years. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ...

Gaddafi quashed an internal revolt, the organization of which he blamed on the United States. Although Gaddafi appeared to have left the public sphere for a while in 1986/87, it later emerged that he had significantly increased Libyan arms shipments to terrorist groups in this period – especially to the Provisional IRA. The Provisional Irish Republican Army imported large quantities of weapons and ammunition into Ireland for use in Northern Ireland since the early 1970s. ...

The Libyan government was behind the Pan Am 73 hijack on September 5, 1986 which was carried out in retaliation for the U.S. bombing as reported by The Sunday Times (London) days after British Prime Minister Tony Blair's state visit to Tripoli in March 2004. Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked on September 5, 1986, by four armed men of the Abu Nidal organization. ...

Then came the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21, 1988. Iran was initially thought to have been responsible for the Lockerbie bombing but two Libyans were charged in 1991, one of whom was convicted for the crime on January 31, 2001. The Libyan Government formally accepted responsibility for the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing on May 29, 2002, and offered $2.7 billion to compensate the families of the 270 victims. Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from Londons Heathrow International Airport to New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport. ... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... The cockpit landed in a farmers field near a tiny church in Tundergarth, Scotland Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan Ams daily Frankfurt-London-New York-Detroit evening flight. ... The trial began on May 3, 2000 The Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial began on May 3, 2000, which was 11 years, four months and 13 days after the sabotage of Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21, 1988. ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

Aftermath

Many nations condemned the attack on Libya, including all Arab states, France, and the Soviet Union. The US received support from the United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, and a few others. Its doctrine of declaring a war on terrorist havens was not repeated until 1998, when President Clinton ordered strikes on six terrorist camps in Afghanistan. Margaret Thatcher's approval of the use of RAF bases led to substantial criticism, including an unprecedented story in The Sunday Times suggesting the Queen was upset by an "uncaring" Prime Minister. Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC (born October 13, 1925), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in office from 1979 to 1990. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper distributed in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International which is in turn owned by News Corporation. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ...

The overall European reaction to the United States’ bombing of Libya was extremely negative. Nearly every European government opposed the American attack. Public opinion in almost every state was overwhelmingly against the action. While the United Kingdom permitted the United States to use its bases to launch the attack, both France and Spain denied fly-over rights, giving rise to much anti-French sentiment in the United States. The West German government, although officially opposed to the attack, was somewhat ambivalent and understanding in post-attack statements by Helmut Kohl. Interestingly, only in France, which had history of conflict with Libya over Chad, was public opinion supportive of the US action, with initially about 60% approving. [citation needed] For general Anti-French hostility, see Francophobia. ... Helmut Josef Michael Kohl (born April 3, 1930) is a German conservative politician and statesman. ... Combatants Libya Chad France Commanders Muammar al-Qadhafi Hissein Habré Casualties Thousands Unknown The Chadian-Libyan conflict began in 1980 when Libya invaded Chad. ...

Although the Soviet Union was ostensibly in cooperation with Libya, it had, by the time of the Libya bombing, made its increasing ambivalence toward Libya apparent in public communications. Gaddafi had a history of verbally attacking the policy agendas and ideology of the Soviet Union, and he often engaged in various international interventions and meddlings that conflicted with Soviet goals in a variety of spheres. During a period where the Soviet Union was apparently attempting to lead a subtle diplomatic effort that could impact its global status, close association with the whims of Gaddafi became a liability.

In the entire crisis, the Soviet Union explicitly announced that it would not provide additional help to Libya beyond resupplying basic armaments and munitions. It made no attempt to militarily intimidate the United States, despite the ongoing American operations in the Gulf of Sidra and its previous knowledge that the United States might launch an attack. However, the Soviet Union also did not completely ignore the propaganda gift and it issued a standard denunciation of this 'wild' and 'barbaric' act by the United States.

After the raid, Moscow did cancel a planned visit to the United States by foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze. At the same time, it had decided that negotiations about the upcoming summer summit between the United States and the Soviet Union and its plans for new arms control agreements would not be jeopardised by the US bombing of Libya. This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

United Nations response

Every year, between at least 1994 and 2006 the United Nations General Assembly scheduled a declaration from the Organization of African Unity about the incident,^[3] but systematically deferred the discussion year on year until formally putting it aside (along with several other issues which had been similarly rescheduled for years) in 2005.^[4] The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ... Flag of the Organisation of African Unity, later also used by the African Union. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

1st anniversary

On the first anniversary of the bombing, April 1987, European and North American peace and solidarity activists gathered to commemorate the anniversary. After a few days of social and cultural networking with local Libyans, including a tour of Gaddafi's bombed house, the group gathered with other Libyans for a commemoration event.^[5]

20th anniversary

Early on April 15, 2006 – to mark the 20th anniversary of the bombing raid – a concert involving US singer Lionel Richie and Spanish tenor José Carreras was held in front of Gaddafi's bombed house in Tripoli. Diplomats, businessmen and politicians were among the audience of what Libya dubbed the "concert for peace". The BBC reported Lionel Richie as telling the audience: is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. ... José Carreras Coll (Catalan: Josep Carreras i Coll) (born December 5, 1946) is a Spanish operatic tenor. ...

"Hanna [Gaddafi's adopted daughter] will be honored tonight because of the fact that you've attached peace to her name."^[6]

References

1. ^ Pollack, Kenneth M. Arabs At War, Military Effectiveness 1948-1991 University of Nebraska Press, 2002
2. ^ Captain Paul Lorence: An American Patriot Left Behind
3. ^ General Assembly Session 49 meeting 93 (20 December 1994).
4. ^ General Assembly Session 59 meeting 117 (12 September 2005).
5. ^ Vanderbilt.
6. ^ Africa, BBC News.

is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• 1986 Berlin discotheque bombing
• Gulf of Sidra incident (1981), US-Libyan air engagement over territorial claim, two Libyan jets shot down
• Gulf of Sidra incident (1989), US-Libyan air engagement over territorial claim, two Libyan jets shot down
• Pan Am Flight 73
• Pan Am Flight 103
• Operation Attain Document related to operations by US Naval Forces in 1986.
• Second Battle of Sirte, World War II naval battle between Regia Marina and Royal Navy.
• UTA Flight 772

The Berlin discotheque bombing of April 5, 1986 was a terrorist attack on the West Berlin La Belle discotheque that was frequented by U.S. soldiers. ... The first Gulf of Sidra incident, August 19, 1981, was an incident in which two Libyan Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter fighter jets engaged two US F-14 Tomcats off of the Libyan coast. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Gulf of Sidra incident (1989) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked on September 5, 1986, by four armed men of the Abu Nidal organization. ... Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from Londons Heathrow International Airport to New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport. ... The United States Freedom of Navigation program has ensured that excessive territorial claims on the worlds oceans and airspace are challenged, either by diplomatic protests and/or by interference. ... The Second Battle of Sirte was a naval battle between the Royal Navy and the Regia Marina during the World War II. It took place on 22 March 1942, in the Mediterranean, north to the Gulf of Sirte, west of Malta. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Italian Regia Marina (literally: Royal Navy) dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... Union des Transports Aériens Flight 772 was a flight of a French airline which was scheduled to fly from the former Congo-Brazzaville, to NDjamena in Chad, and then to Charles De Gaulle International Airport near Paris. ...

Further reading

• Stanik, Joseph T. El Dorado Canyon: Reagan's Undeclared War With Qaddafi. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 2003. ISBN 1-55750-983-2
• Venkus, Robert E. Raid On Qaddafi. New York, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. ISBN 0-312-07073-X

“Annapolis” redirects here. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

External links

• Operation El Dorado Canyon at globalsecurity.org
• Operation El Dorado Canyon from Air Force Association magazine
• Petition for the return of the remains of Paul Lorence
• Excerpt from Victor Ostrovsky's The Other Side of Deception
• The Libyan Strike: How The Americans Did It (Operation El Dorado Canyon) at Air Power Australia