U.S. aircraft engage Libyan coastguard vessel

A Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn statement on Tuesday said a U.S. Navy P—C3 Maritime Patrol aircraft fired at the Libyan vessel Vittoria after multiple explosions were seen near the port Monday evening. The 12—meter patrol vessel had to be beached.

A Libyan rebel urges people to leave, as shelling from Qadhafi's forces starts landing on the frontline outside of Bin Jawaad, 150 km east of Sirte, central Libya, on Tuesday. Photo: AP.

U.S. Military officials say U.S. aircraft have fired at a Libyan coast guard vessel after it launched missiles at merchant ships in the port of Misrata, Libya.

A Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn statement on Tuesday said a U.S. Navy P—C3 Maritime Patrol aircraft fired at the Libyan vessel Vittoria after multiple explosions were seen near the port Monday evening. The 12—meter patrol vessel had to be beached.

A U.S. Air Force A—10 Thunderbolt said it also fired on two smaller vessels, destroying one and forcing the other to be abandoned.

Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn is the U.S. Africa Command task force providing operational and tactical command of U.S. military forces supporting the response to unrest in Libya.