Feb 20 2011: Qaddaffi begins slaughtering Libyans in the streets.
Feb 23 2011: Obama asks Qaddaffi to stop killing his people.
February 26, 2011: U.N. Security Council imposes sanctions on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and his family as his government continues a bloody crackdown on rebels. Sanctions come 11 days after anti-government riots in Benghazi, inspired by Arab Spring revolts in Tunisia and Egypt.
Mar 2 2011: SecDef says its too difficult to impose a no fly zone over Libya.
Mar 7 2011: NATO says it has no plans to impose a no fly zone.
Mar 10 2011: While NATO dithers, France recognizes Rebels.
Mar 14 2011: Obama denies he's dragging his feet about making a decision on who to talk to. White House Spokesman says Obama doesn't need an act of Congress to commit acts of war in Libya, but that it's important to have UN approval.
Mar 18 2011: UN approves No-Fly Zone to protect civilians from aerial attack.
March 19, 2011: U.S., Britain and France launch U.N.-mandated air attack over Libya to halt advances on civilians by Mr. Gadhafi's forces.
March 26, 2011: Opposition fighters capture key city of Ajdabiya.
March 31, 2011: NATO starts military operations in Libya under U.N. Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973, which call for protection of civilians. Military operations include an arms embargo and a “no-fly” zone.
April 30, 2011: A NATO missile attack on a house in Tripoli kills Gadhafi's youngest son and three grandchildren.
August 14, 2011: Fighters from Libya's opposition provisional authority claim capture of Zawiyah, but fighting continues around the strategic town.
August 20, 2011: National Transition Council fighters launch first attack on the capital, Tripoli, in coordination with NATO air support. Gadhafi's compound is seized three days later and the longtime leader drops out of sight.
September 21, 2011: NATO extends its military mission for up to 90 days.
October 20, 2011: NATO air support backs NTC fighters in their final assault on Moammar Gadhafi's hometown, Sirte. Gadhafi tries to escape but is killed.
October 21, 2011: NATO officials agree at a meeting in Brussels to end their military mission in Libya, tentatively on October 31, according to Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
October 22, 2011: Libya's provisional leaders declare the country liberated from 42 years of rule by Moammar Gadhafi. Tens of thousands of Libyans celebrate in Tripoli and in Benghazi, the eastern city where the rebellion was born.
October 31, 2011: NATO military operations in Libya end at midnight local time, 2200 UTC. Sixteen countries provided air support during the operation.