The revelation came as Pentagon officials laid out U.S. participation in the Libya conflict over the last 10 days, including that Americans have flown 35 percent of all air missions, including bombing attacks against Libyan surface-to-air missile launchers.

According to Pentagon officials, 11 U.S. fighter jets were assigned to NATO to look for and take out Libya‘s air-defense systems.

U.S. military officials have said consistently that American fighter jets would conduct strikes in Libya only if NATO made a special request and top Pentagon leaders approved it. A Pentagon spokesman, Col. Dave Lapan, said NATO had made no such requests since taking over the lead role.