American, French and British military forces, convinced that Gadhafi was not adhering to a United Nations-mandated cease-fire, hammered Libyan military positions with missiles and fighter jets in the first phase of an operation that will include enforcement of a no-fly zone.
An eyewitness in Tripoli reported seeing signs of gunfire rising Sunday morning from the direction of nearby Mitiga Airport. The anti-Gadhafi activist said she heard "continuous gunshots" and at least two loud explosions. It was not clear if the airport was also being used as a military installation.
The eyewitness, who was not identified for security reasons, said she did not hear the sound of flying aircraft.
More than 110 Tomahawk missiles fired from American and British ships and submarines hit about 20 Libyan air and missile defense targets in western portions of the country, U.S. Vice Adm. William Gortney said at a Pentagon briefing.
The U.S. will conduct a damage assessment of the sites, which include SA-5 missiles and communications facilities. A senior U.S. military official, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said the cruise missiles, which fly close to the ground or sea at about 550 miles per hour, landed near Misrata and Tripoli.
The salvo, in an operation dubbed "Odyssey Dawn," was meant "to deny the Libyan regime from using force against its own people," said Gortney.
U.S. Navy photos showed flashes of light and smoke funnels as missiles soared from a destroyer into the night sky.
Earlier, French fighter jets deployed over Libya fired at a military vehicle Saturday, the first strike against Gadhafi's military forces, which earlier attacked the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
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French military aircraft began flying missions over Libya today in support of a no-fly zone the United Nations approved Thursday.

President Nicolas Sarkozy said that "our air force will oppose any aggression by Colonel Gadhafi ... As of now, our aircraft are preventing planes from attacking the town and are prepared to intervene against tanks, armored vehicles threatening unarmed civilians." One of the planes deployed has reportedly fired against a ground military vehicle.

The intervention is believed to be the first such action since the no-fly zone was approved.  fighter jets have been deployed from , France, and have reportedly encountered no problems during their missions.

This action was followed by United States warships launching  cruise missiles at targets in Tripoli and .

Other countries are preparing to assist in enforcing the no-fly zone. Italy has offered to allow aircraft use at their air bases, and Canada has already sent an aircraft to the region, though they will not immediately begin flying missions.

In Benghazi, government forces have reportedly launched an attack on the rebel stronghold, though Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has denied this claim. Pro-Gaddafi forces have apparently shot down a rebel aircraft. 

Some 200,000 people are estimated to have fled the city, according to the UN.