Western forces unleashed over 100 Tomahawk cruise missiles on military targets in Tripoli and along the Mediterranean coast in Libya on Sunday. Britain said, it again launched Tomahawk missiles as part of a co-ordinated strike on Libyan air defences. Witnesses in Tripoli reported hearing loud blasts and anti-aircraft fire last night. Smoke rose from near the compound of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. Earlier, the Pentagon said Libya 's air defences were effectively degraded. While the US will continue to play a part in military operations against Col Gaddafi's forces, Washington said it will not have the pre-eminent role. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said, Pentagon expects to hand over control of allied military operations in Libya either to a UK-France coalition or to NATO in a matter of days. Italy 's airbases saw Arab and Western warplanes converge in preparation to join the UN authorised campaign in Libya . A French Defence Ministry spokesman said that four Qatari planes will soon move into the Libyan zone of operations which is another sign of Arab participation in this international operation to protect civilians. Aircraft from the UAE too are due to arrive at an Italian air base, already hosting four Spanish F-18 fighters. Turkey too said it is ready to contribute to the international action in Libya . France also sent its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to join the campaign. Meanwhile, Libyan military announced an immediate ceasefire on Sunday in its campaign against an uprising. A defiant Muammar Gaddafi, however, vowed to retaliate against what he called western aggression and the war on Islam. Libyan state television said, 48 civilians have been killed and 150 wounded as a result of this aggression. It claimed most casualties were children but gave no details. India and Russia came out against the strikes. India said it regrets the air strikes that are taking place and wants measures to be taken to mitigate and not exacerbate the already difficult situation for the Libyan people. Moscow pushed for an end to indiscriminate use of force by the US-led forces and said the intervention in Libya has been adopted by the UNSC in haste. The Arab League, which had earlier asked the United Nations to slap a no-fly zone on Libya , also criticised the Western military strikes.