(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The NATO announced Saturday it has disabled three Libyan state TV satellite transmission dishes in the capital, Tripoli, through a "precision air strike". It said the operation was intended to stop "inflammatory broadcasts" by Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime.
A NATO statement said the strike was "performed by NATO fighter aircraft using state-of-the-art precision guided munitions", and that there had been "due consideration and careful planning to minimize the risks of casualties". "Our intervention was necessary as TV was being used as an integral component of the regime apparatus designed to systematically oppress and threaten civilians and to incite attacks against them," it said. It said the strike would "reduce the regime's ability to oppress civilians" but also "preserve television broadcast infrastructure that will be needed after the conflict". The NATO said it was in the process of assessing the effect of the strike. But the Libyan state TV was still on air following the NATO statement.
Reports from Tripoli said a series of loud explosions were heard in the city center late on Friday evening. Libyan state TV reported that civilian targets had been hit, though this could not be verified. Libyan state TV reported that civilian targets had been hit, though this could not be verified. The coalition forces began operations in Libya in March, under a UN mandate authorizing military action for the protection of civilians.
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