NATO considers expanded role in Libya

Brussels, Belgium (CNN) — As NATO prepares to take over responsibility for the no-fly zone in Libya, the 28-member alliance on Sunday was also debating a separate plan to expand military actions in the country at war.

NATO’s military committee approved an operations plan early Sunday that would shift the entire Libyan mission to alliance command, including rules of engagement. This technical approval now requires unanimous political consent from all members before NATO officially takes the operation over.

As NATO ambassadors prepared to meet Sunday evening in Brussels to discuss the plan, NATO sources said it was not a done deal and divisions remained about if and when to engage in airstrikes against Libyan ground forces.

At the same time, NATO was putting the final touches on its takeover of the no-fly zone over Libya. The handover from the United States and allies should be complete by Monday. NATO officials described the transition as phased and seamless operation.

While agreement on the no-fly zone was contentious, agreement on taking over the entire operation is said to be even more sensitive with some nations.

All alliance members would have to live by the rules of engagement, if approved, albeit with caveats. Turkey is said to still be quite reticent to approve a truly offensive operation that would strike at Libyan forces when they were engaged in battle with rebel forces. According to U.Nn Security Council Resolution 1973, the mandate is to protect Libyan civilians.

Many nations within NATO will have their own caveats, even if it is approved, and some may not participate in operations in Libya. However, once a plan to take over the entire mission is agreed upon, it is assumed that no nation would not prevent other alliance members from executing on the military plan and rules of engagement approved.