What date did the United States Air Force carry out air strikes against Libya?
The United States Air Force carried out air strikes against Libya on the 15th of April 1986. This operation followed the West Berlin discotheque bombing ten days earlier.
The United States Air Force carried out air strikes against Libya on the 15th of April 1986. This operation followed the West Berlin discotheque bombing ten days earlier.
U.S. president Ronald Reagan ordered the air raid on Libyan targets on the 14th of April. He blamed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for the West Berlin discotheque bombing that occurred ten days prior to the strike.
The United States denied overflight rights by France, Spain, and Italy plus use of European continental bases. French President François Mitterrand refused clearance because the US interested in limited action while France wanted removal of Gaddafi from power.
Total Libyan casualties estimated at 60 including those bombed airbases. The attack killed three people including two U.S. servicemen and a Turkish woman in the preceding West Berlin discotheque bombing.
On the 14th of August 2008 the United States and Libya signed a comprehensive claims settlement agreement in Tripoli. Full diplomatic relations were restored between the two nations following this event.