LONDON, April 26 (UPI) -- Military operations in Libya are moving favorably for Western allies in the region but it could take some time to declare mission accomplished, London warned.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague updated members of the government Tuesday on the progress of the intervention in Libya. European and Arab military forces are taking the lead in enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya imposed by the U.N. Security Council last month.
Hague through his spokesman was quoted by The Independent newspaper in London as saying there were grounds for optimism in Libya but coalition forces need to be committed to a long-term engagement.
"The mission is going in the right direction but we need to prepare for the long haul," the spokesman said.
Despite early defections and weeks of bombardment by coalition forces, rebel units on the ground in Libya are struggling to gain ground against forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Washington announced recently that it was sending unmanned drones to Libya. London, Paris and Rome agreed to send military liaison officers to rebel-held parts of Libya, though all three governments maintain they aren't putting boots on the ground.
British Defense Secretary Liam Fox, meanwhile, arrived Tuesday in Washington to discuss the Libyan operation with his U.S. counterpart Robert Gates.
