Breaking: U.S. begins missile strikes against Qaddafi's air defenses

The United States launched its first missile attack on Libyan air defenses on Saturday, NBC News confirmed, as America and its allies began enforcing a no-fly zone.

President Barack Obama prepared to make a statement on the situation shortly, White House spokesman Jim Carney said.

Earlier, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said allied air forces had gone into action on over Libya and were preventing Moammar Gadhafi’s forces from attacking the rebel city of Benghazi.