NATO, which is planning to take control of all United Nations-mandated military operations against Libya, fully replacing the United States-led coalition that has carried out airstrikes so far, will use its base in the Aegean city of Izmir to oversee its aerial mission as part of the operation.

Alliance officials' remarks concerning NATO's Allied Air Component Command in Izmir, the main mission of which is to be prepared to conduct the full range of air operations throughout NATO's area of operations, were delivered to the Anatolia news agency on Friday, March 25. The announcement came hours after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said NATO clinched an agreement on Thursday to take over command of all allied military operations in Libya from the United States.