Peaceful protests in Benghazi meet with violent repression by the Qadhafi regime.
26 February 2011 The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1970, which imposes an arms embargo on Libya.
8 March 2011 NATO deploys AWACS aircraft to the region.
10 March 2011 NATO moves ships to the Mediterranean Sea to boost the monitoring effort.
17 March 2011 The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1973, which imposes a no-fly zone over Libya and authorizes member states “to take all necessary measures” to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas under attack or threat of attack.
19 March 2011 Several UN member states take immediate military action to protect Libyan civilians.
22 March 2011 NATO decides to enforce the UN-mandated arms embargo.
23 March 2011 NATO vessels in the Mediterranean begin cutting off the flow of weapons and mercenaries to Libya by sea.
24 March 2011 NATO takes the decision to enforce the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya in support of UNSCR 1973.
31 March 2011 NATO takes sole command of the international military effort regarding Libya. NATO air and sea assets begin taking military actions to protect civilians in Libya.
14 April 2011 NATO foreign ministers and partners agree to use all necessary resources to carry out the UN mandate.
8 June 2011 NATO defence ministers and partners decide to continue Operation Unified Protector for as long as it takes to end the crisis in Libya.
22 August 2011 The NATO Secretary General reaffirms NATO’s commitment to protect the Libyan people and its desire that the Libyan people decide their future in freedom and in peace.
1 September At a “Friends of Libya” meeting in Paris, international heads of state and government reiterate their commitment to protecting civilians in Libya.
16 September 2011 The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 2009, which unanimously reaffirms NATO’s mandate to protect Libyan civilians.
6 October NATO defence ministers reaffirm their commitment to protect the people of Libya for as long as threats to civilians persist. They also decide to end the mission as soon as conditions permit.
21 October 2011 The North Atlantic Council takes the preliminary decision to end operations at the end of the month.
28 October 2011 The North Atlantic Council confirms the decision to end OUP at the end of the month.
31 October 2011 At midnight Libyan time, a NATO AWACS concludes the last sortie over Libya. The next day, NATO maritime assets leave Libyan waters for their home ports