The U.S. and European nations have finally launched a joint military action on Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi's forces.

France’s Defense Ministry said fighter jets of the French military struck military vehicles of Gadhafi’s forces. Navy vessels of the U.S. and Britain fired Tomahawk cruise missiles at coastal targets.

Aircraft of the allied forces are gathering at an air base in Italy in southern Europe. Fighter jets of the U.S., Canada and Denmark have already arrived at the base, on standby for an attack, while the Norwegian government plans to send its fighters soon for the joint operation.

The military action came on the heels of an emergency summit of 22 countries in Paris.

Meanwhile, Libya’s state TV quoted Gadhafi’s forces as saying that the allied assault hit private facilities in Tripoli, killing civilians. The report also claimed that the Libyan troops shot down one of France’s planes.