Nato carried out 9,600 airstrike sorties in seven months, destroying 5,900 targets
Operation cost Britain estimated £300million
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:03 PM on 31st October 2011
Nato today announced it was ending its bombing campaign which helped Libyan rebels overthrow Muammar Gaddafi's regime.
Officials said all operations for the air and sea campaign will conclude at midnight on Monday, as the strikes were described as 'one of the most successful' operations in the history of the 62-year-old alliance.
Nato stopped its bombing missions soon after Gaddafi's death earlier this month, but has maintained regular air patrols.
Change of regime? A trademark Al Qaeda flag was seen flying over Benghazi's courthouse last week
Officials say Nato air forces carried out 9,600 strike sorties in the past seven months, destroying about 5,900 military targets.
Nato's decision was announced however, as fears grew over the direction of the new leadership regime in Libya.
The flag of Al Qaeda has been spotted flying over the courthouse in Benghazi, while rebels in Libya are said to have imposed Sharia law since seizing power.
Nato stuck to its decision to end the operation despite calls from Libya's National Transitional Council for it to stay engaged longer.
Nato says it does not expect to play a major post-war role, although it could assist the transition to democracy by helping with security sector reform.
Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will mark the end of the mission by visiting Libya today, where he will meet Libya's NTC and members of civil society, the alliance said.
Allies of Nato have been keen to see a quick conclusion to a costly effort that has involved more than 26,000 air sorties and round-the-clock naval patrols at a time when budgets are under severe strain due to the global economic crisis.
The U.N. Security Council authorized the mission in March to protect civilians caught up in the civil war.
Nato staff temporarily seconded to the headquarters in Naples for the Libyan operation are being reassigned to their regular duties, officials said.
The NTC officially announced Libya's liberation on October 23, days after the capture and death of Gaddafi. Nato commanders have said they believe the interim administration is able to take care of the country's security.
Last week, however, Al Qaeda's black flag, complete with Arabic script declaring 'there is no God but Allah' and full moon underneath, was seen fluttering above the Benghazi courthouse building, according to Vice.com.
The black flag is said to be flying over the building alongside the Libyan national flag.
Vice.com reported that Islamists in Benghazi have been seen driving SUVs along the city's streets and waving the Al Qaeda flag at night while shouting, 'Islamiya, Islamiya! No East, nor West'.
The Al-Qaeda flag was seen above Benghazi's courthouse just days after Libyan rebels imposed Sharia law on parts of the country (file picture)
The revelation in Benghazi came just days after it emerged that rebels in Libya have imposed Sharia law in the country since seizing power.
The country's new leader, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, said Islamic Sharia law will be the ‘basic source’ of legislation in free Libya.
The sudden lurch by a country seen as very moderate towards Islamic extremism will alarm many in the West who supported the ousting of Colonel Gaddafi.
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