美国总统奥巴马星期一将就利比亚形势向全美民众发表讲话。与此同时，一些国会议员说，美国在利比亚的行动以及目标仍不明确。
奥巴马政府为其军事干预利比亚的决定以及帮助执行联合国授权的“禁飞区”决议进行了辩护。美国国防部长盖茨星期日说，虽然利比亚不是美国的“核心利益”所在，但它是关系美国核心利益的地区的一部分。美国国务卿克林顿说，北非国家对于英国、法国、意大利和其他北约盟国以及美国的阿拉伯伙伴而言，关系核心国家利益。
俄罗斯外交部长拉夫罗夫星期一说，联军对忠于利比亚领导人卡扎菲部队的袭击不是联合国安理会决议案支持的行为。这一决议案授权采取“所有必要的措施”保护利比亚平民。拉夫罗夫将这一国际行动称为对利比亚内战的干预。俄罗斯在对这一决议案进行表决时投了弃权票。
同样在星期一，卡塔尔国家通讯社援引一名外交部官员的话说，卡塔尔承认利比亚反政府委员会作为利比亚人民的唯一合法代表。卡塔尔是第一个正式承认利比亚反对派的阿拉伯国家，也是第一个参加执行禁飞区使命的阿拉伯国家。
U.S. President Barack Obama will address the American people Monday on the situation in Libya, as some in Congress say U.S. actions there and their objectives are still unclear.
The Obama administration has defended its decision to intervene militarily in Libya and help enforce a United Nations-authorized no-fly zone. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday that that while Libya is not a “vital interest” of the United States, it is part of a region that is a vital interest. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the North African country is a vital national interest for Britain, France, Italy and other NATO allies, as well as for Arab partners of the U.S.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that the coalition attacks on forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi are not sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council resolution that authorized the use of “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in Libya. Lavrov called the international actions intervention in a civil war. Russia abstained from the vote on the resolution.
Also Monday, Qatar’s state news agency quoted a foreign ministry official as saying the country has recognized Libya’s rebel council as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people. Qatar is the first Arab nation to officially recognize the Libyan opposition and was also the first Arab country to join the mission enforcing the no-fly zone.