The on-scene commander of the international coalition for Libya is confirming that civilians are under attack by government forces in Misrata, the North Africa nation’s third largest city.
United States Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear told Pentagon reporters Tuesday that the coalition is considering all options in light of the attacks, but he did not elaborate.
Misrata is one of the cities that U.S. President Barack Obama has demanded from Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi retreat his forces from.
Earlier, Western warplanes attacked a military aircraft belonging to Muammar Gadhafi’s armed forces that was flying towards the rebel-held city of Benghazi, Al Jazeera reported, quoting its correspondent.
Gadhafi forces attacked two west Libyan towns, killing dozens while rebels were pinned down in the east and NATO tried to resolve a heated row over who should lead the Western air campaign.