The uprising against the Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi's regime that started mid-February has seen the Libyan Arab Air Force being used in combat against its own citizens. Combat aircraft and, to a lesser extent, attack helicopters, have been active bombing and strafing towns and cities in rebel hands, notably Zawiyah 30 miles (48km) from Tripoli. Little information has emerged concerning the number of sorties or the effectiveness of the raids, although large numbers of civilians have been killed in the fighting. The prospect of attacking their fellow countrymen has caused unrest in some units, resulting in two Colonels deciding to fly their Dassault Mirage FlEDs (502 and 508), armed with SNEB rocket pods, to Malta International Airport on February 21, where they requested asylum.
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