In March 2011, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1973, which authorized member states to take necessary measures to protect civilians in Libya and established a no-fly zone.
A coalition including the United States, France, and the United Kingdom began strikes on March 19. Command of the operation was then transferred to NATO under Operation Unified Protector. Libya’s leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in October 2011 after opposition forces captured his hometown.
Debate continues about the intervention’s legal basis, its goals, and its consequences for Libya and the region.
