Libya launches air strikes on militias in south "A force was readied, then aircraft moved and took off and dealt with the targets," he told reporters in Tripoli. He gave no details of the military operation but blamed forces loyal to Gaddafi for the violence. Sabha, the biggest city in the south, has seen days of clashes between rival militias and tribesmen. "The situation in the south ... opened a chance for some criminals ... loyal to the Gaddafi regime to exploit this and to attack the Tamahind air force base," he said. We will protect the revolution and Libyan people. After Mr Zeidan's announcement, the General National Congress (GNC) assembly voted to put the army on general alert, state news agency Lana and a deputy said. "There are some hostile movements against the (Libyan) revolution in some cities," said lawmaker Salah Ajauda, a member of the GNC's security committee. In Tripoli, security forces were also on maximum alert, a security spokesman said.