NATO has officially started taking over the command of military operations in Libya, officials said Wednesday, DPA reported.
"NATO command is up and running," a NATO official said. "We received all the pledges we need."
Military sources said there are still some jets and military equipment that had to be placed under NATO's control by their respective governments, but that was expected to happen within hours.
Belgian pilots have already transitioned to NATO command, the Belga news agency reported.
Canadian Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard is leading the NATO mission, code-named Unified Protector, from the alliance's maritime headquarters in Naples, Italy.
NATO ambassadors had paved the way on Sunday for the military alliance to take total control of operations meant to protect civilians from Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi's troops.
NATO had already been in charge of enforcing a no-fly zone over the North African country and patrolling an arms embargo in the Mediterranean.
