US military aircrafts are seen on the tarmac of a NATO base in Souda, Chania, Crete island on 22 March 2011 as await deployment to help inforce the UN-mandated no fly zone over Libya. EPA/BGNES
US forces are rumored to be already present on the ground in Libya, despite official sources saying the States have no intention to carry out a land operation.
This information was released by American channel Fox News, refering to reserve colonel David Hand, according to whom the Pentagon is not carrying out massive air strikes against Libya since there are US forces already present on the ground.
American soldiers have been in Libya for 12 days, according to Hant, whose statements were confermed by US intelligence colonel Tony Scheffer.
At the same time, Reuters reports that within 72 hours NATO is expected to completely take over the command on the operation carried out officially to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya.
The center of command is expected to be the Turkish military base in Izmir. The operation head will be Canadian general Charles Bouchard.
Earlier RIA Novosti had reported that the international coalition carrying out the Libya operation is "actively developing a plan" for a land invasion set to start end of April.