NATO will end its military operations in Libya on October 31, announced on Friday night NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, one day after the death of former Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi. Representatives of 28 member states of NATO in Brussels have signed a “preliminary agreement” to end, on October 31, sea and air operations, which began on March 31, in Libya, Rasmussen said in a press conference. Alliance Board will meet again early next week to formally adopt this decision. “By October 31, we will monitor the situation closely and will maintain the ability to respond to threats against civilians”, said Rasmussen.
Rasmussen did not want to comment on the death of Gadhafi. “He was never a target of our operations”, he said. “I am proud of what we achieved together with our partners, including many from the region,” he added. After October 31, NATO “does not intend to maintain the armed forces in Libya”. he said. “It will be the end of our mission”, he added.
Representatives of NATO member states took this decision after a long meeting at the Alliance in Brussels, which discussed the opportunity of concluding military operation in Libya, immediately after Muammar Gadhafi’s death and the liberation of Sirte.
Sea and air operations discharge started on March 31 was “recommended” by the head of Allied Command Council, U.S. Admiral James Stavridis. Several participating countries, including France and Britain, have called for caution, by keeping a portion of the military, for the situation to stabilize and the Transitional National Council to be able to ensure security throughout the country.
From the beginning of the intervention led from a NATO base near Naples (Italy), equipment (planes, helicopters and unmanned aircraft) of the Alliance have performed over 9,600 “offensive” missions from a total of over 26,000. Several Arab countries such as Qatar and the UAE, participated in this mission.