Thursday, 17 March - The UN Security Council passes Resolution 1973, which authorises the use of “all necessary means” to protect Libyan civilians and enforce a ceasefire and no-fly zone against Muammar Gaddafi's forces.
Friday, 18 March - Libya declares a ceasefire in its battle to defeat rebels against Gaddafi's regime.
Saturday, 19 March - French warplanes carry out the first air strikes, destroying several armoured vehicles from Gaddafi's forces.
Hours later, US and British forces launch at least 110 cruise missiles, hitting Muammar Gaddafi's air-defences.
The cruise missiles are fired from one British submarine and a number of US destroyers and submarines, according to the Pentagon.
The missiles hit more than 20 air-defence sites along the Mediterranean coast, according to reports.
Pro-Gaddafi forces attack Benghazi despite declaring a ceasefire a day earlier, Al-Jazeera television reports.
Sunday, 20 March - French jets launch a second day of operations over Libya. 15 planes patrol Libyan airspace but do not open fire as they meet no resistance.
A French official says that Qatar is about to contribute four planes to the operation. The move would make Qatar the first Arab country to play an active part in the campaign against Gaddafi.
Italian aircraft join the operation for the first time when six jets took off from Trapani in western Sicily. Earlier Italy had said eight Italian aircraft had been assigned to the mission.
NATO approves plans to help enforce a UN arms embargo against Libya.
Monday, 21 March - US officials say the military campaign to destroy Gaddafi's air defences and establish a no-fly zone over Libya has nearly accomplished its initial objectives.
US and British forces fire 12 missiles at targets in Libya, including command and control operations, a surface-to-surface missile facility and an air defence site.
Air forces from France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and the United States fly missions to enforce the no-fly zone over Benghazi and conduct reconnaissance, according to US Army General Carter Ham, head of Africa Command. Ham says Libyan military jets have not been sighted since the start of coalition operations and no use of air defence radar have been detected.
Canadian jets flew their first missions, with four CF-18s and two refueling tankers conducting a patrol off northern Libya.
Libyan government forces continue to engage in scattered fighting.
Rebel forces say their attempt to recapture the eastern town of Ajdabiya is halted by tank and rocket fire from government loyalists.
NATO struggles to overcome divisions about the role it should play in the military operation in Libya, as France resists pressure to let the organisation take over.
Tuesday, 22 March - Two US airmen are rescued after ejecting from their warplane, before it crashes during operations in eastern Libya. The plane appeared to suffer mechanical failure, the US military says.
According to reports, six villagers are shot and wounded in the US rescue effort.
NATO agrees to begin enforcing a UN arms embargo on Libya.
Explosions and anti-aircraft fire are heard in Tripoli.
Fighting between pro-Gaddafi forces and rebels continue despite the declaration of a ceasefire by the Libyan government.
At least 10 people are killed by Gaddafi forces in Zintan, near Tunisia's border, a resident tells Reuters.
At least nine people are killed in clashes in Yafran, residents say.
Residents in Misrata, the last city held by rebels in western Libya, suffer shelling by Gaddafi's forces, with 22 killed and 100 injured, a doctor tells the BBC.
World leaders' reactions
US President Barack Obama: “We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people that there will be no mercy.”
Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi: “[The attacks are] a colonialist crusade of aggression. This can lead to open a new crusade war.”
British PM David Cameron: “Colonel Gaddafi has made this happen. We cannot allow the slaughter of civilians to continue.”
Russian PM Vladimir Putin: “The resolution by the Security Council, of course, is defective and flawed. To me, it resembles some sort of medieval call to crusade when someone would appeal to someone to go to a certain place and free someone else.”
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev: "I think we all need to be careful in our evaluations. In no way is it acceptable to use expressions that in essence lead to a clash of civilisations, such as crusades and so forth - this is unacceptable."
Arab League secretary-general General Amr Moussa: “What is happening in Libya differs from the aim of imposing a no-fly zone, and what we want is the protection of civilians and not the bombardment of more civilians.”
French President Nicolas Sarkozy: “In Libya, the civilian population, which is demanding nothing more than the right to choose their own destiny, is in mortal danger. It is our duty to respond to their anguished appeal."
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