NATO Takes Out Libya's Navy

The Los Angeles Times reports:

A series of NATO airstrikes on Libyan government vessels left ships burned, battered and sunk in three ports Friday as the alliance sought to degrade the ability of Moammar Kadafi's regime to attack from the sea.

The strikes came after alliance forces in recent weeks observed Libyan vessels threatening NATO ships and carrying out "indiscriminate mining" in sea lanes off the rebel-held city of Misurata, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said.

In Tripoli, foreign journalists were taken to the sprawling port area, where at least five vessels had been hit, including one that was sunk in the harbor and several that were scorched from fires. The strikes blew apart gun turrets, tore gaping holes in hulls and collapsed decks, sending debris and shrapnel across the docks.

In each case, the NATO missiles or bombs appeared to hit their targets directly. Among the vessels struck was a navy frigate berthed between two commercial container vessels; neither container ship appeared to have been damaged. The frigate was ablaze in the harbor early Friday.

Libyan authorities denounced the strikes and said four of the five vessels were coast guard boats that hadn't left the port since March, when NATO began its bombing campaign. None were involved in hostile activity against the alliance, said Commandant Omran Forjani of the Libyan coast guard. The frigate had also been in port since March, officials said.

NATO said all eight boats hit in the three ports were warships.