Allied strikes hit targets in Tripoli

Tonight’s news of major explosions in Tripoli shows that the allies are putting little store in the Gaddafi regime’s unsubstantiated claims of a ceasefire. Some of the targets appear, from reports, to have been in the same area of the city as Gaddafi’s barracks and residence. The US military, though, says the allies are not targeting the dictator specifically.

Judging from comments made by the US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, the Americans are looking to hand over control of the operation to the French and/or British in the next few days. Pentagon fears over US military overstretch, which are part of the reason that Obama has sounded such an uncertain trumpet on Libya, are still playing a large part in determining the American response.

The strategic question for the allies over the coming days is how, can they best advance regime change while not committing ground troops or arming the rebels.