Nato flew 20,000 sorties to aid rebels

The United States, Britain and France were quick to answer a call in March from rebel forces for help after it became clear the Gaddafi government was prepared to brutally repress opposition as the Arab Spring, which had ignited in Egypt leading to the downfall of President Hosni Mubarak, swept across north Africa.

A British submarine was the first to pour fire against Libyan forces, backed up by air forces which have continued to pound key targets.

The military campaign has so far cost £260m from the Government’s reserves. UK forces continued to attack the regime’s “remaining apparatus of repression” even as rebels advanced into Tripoli.

A dawn strike on Sunday saw British aircraft mount a “precision strike” on the military intelligence operations room in the Libyan capital following previous bombing in the area.

Later in the day, a battle tank positioned on the outskirts of the city was also destroyed.

Chief of the Defence staff spokesman Major General Nick Pope said: “Since the start of military operations on March 19, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps strikes have damaged or destroyed over 890 former regime targets which posed a threat to the Libyan people, ranging from secret police and intelligence headquarters, to several hundred tanks, artillery pieces and armed vehicles.”