NATOSource

August 4, 2011

France withdraws aircraft carrier from NATO’s Libya operation

By DPA

France withdraws aircraft carrier from NATO’s Libya operation

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle off the coast of Libya, June 13, 2011.

From DPA:  France is withdrawing its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier from the war in Libya after four months, Defence Minister Gerard Longuet was quoted by a French newspaper Thursday as saying.

The nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle was deployed off Libya in late March.

The carrier and its 1,900 crew are due to return to the southern port of Toulon by mid-August, Longuet told Var Matin newspaper. . . .

French fighter planes are also deployed at NATO bases on the Greek island of Crete and in Sicily, Italy. French surveillance aircraft used in imposing a no-fly zone over Libya depart from bases in France.  (photo: Getty)

Image: getty%206%2016%2011%20Charles%20de%20Gaulle.jpg