BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Thursday morning took sole command of international air operations over Libya, the alliance said.

The NATO operation will implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which imposes a no-fly zone over Libya and calls for "all necessary measures" to be taken in order to protect Libyan civilians from government-led attacks.

"The Alliance has the assets in place to conduct its tasks under Operation Unified Protector - the arms embargo, no-fly zone and actions to protect civilians and civilian centres," a NATO statement said. "In line with the mandate of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, NATO's focus is on protecting civilians and civilian-populated areas against the threat of attack."

Coalition forces have been carrying out flights over Libya as well as airstrikes since March 19, two days after Resolution 1973 was adopted in the UN Security Council.

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