Libyan government forces shot down two US-built attack helicopters being used by rebel forces in the east of the country, the deputy foreign minister said today.
Khaled Kaim attacked the international community for allowing rebel forces to operate aircraft despite the existence of a no-fly zone over the country following UN Security Council resolution 1973.
"A clear violation was committed by the rebels to resolution 1973 relating to the no-fly zone. The rebels used two Chinook helicopters and they were shot down" near the eastern oil facilities of Brega, he said.
The report could not be confirmed with the rebels, but witnesses journalists in the area described seeing at least one attack helicopter apparently fighting for the rebels in the area yesterday.
Most aircraft used by the Libyans, whether government or rebel forces, are Russian made, however, the 2008 Directory of World Air Forces said Libya had 20 of the distinctive twin rotor heavy lifting aircraft in its possession.
While the Libyan government forces still possess most of the military aircraft in the country, a few were taken by the rebels when some air force units defected in the east of the country following popular uprisings against Muammar Gaddafi's four decades of rule.
Nato, which enforces the no-fly zone, however, said it has been applying it to both sides and yesterday intercepted a rebel MiG-23 fighter jet and forced it back to the airport.
Nato forces also continue to carry out airstrikes against Gaddafi's forces, destroying 17 tanks and damaging nine others, the alliance said.
Rebels have criticised Nato for not giving them sufficient battlefield support as government forces continue to push into the east.
Yesterday, as rebels attempted to advance toward the oil city of Brega, they were flanked by government forces, sending them scrambling back to defend the key city of Ajdabiya. By the end of the day, the two sides were battling each other in the city streets.
Recapturing Ajdabiya would give the Libyan military a staging ground to attack the rebels' main stronghold, Benghazi, about 100 miles farther east along the coastal highway. Gaddafi's forces were approaching Benghazi when they were driven back by the international air campaign launched last month to protect civilians and ground Gaddafi's aircraft.
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