Libya/Bombing of Tripoli - 1986

The Battle Of Sidra:  A Pre-Lim To The Bombardment
During the night of March 22, "U.S. Navy planes began flying sorties" 
across Col. Muammar Qaddafi's "Line of Death." Two days later, on March 
24, three U.S. ships crossed the line at 1300 hours local time.

Mission #1:  
March 22. Two Libyan SA-5 missiles have been fired at U.S. aircraft within
the last hour. The missiles were launched from a location near the Port of
Surt. Protect fleet from any other incoming missiles. 

Background:  U.S. jets met activity from a pair of Libyan SA-5 missiles. 
The missiles were launched at the jets from a location near the Port of 
Surt about two hours after the U.S. vessels had crossed the line. The 
missiles failed to hit their targets, seventy miles off the coast of 
Libya. SA-5 and SA-2 missiles were launched from Libyan sites about five 
hours after the initial missiles were sent. Up to 12 missiles were fired 
in three successful rounds, all of them missing their targets.
