Final answer:
The NATO-led operation that enforced UN Security Council Resolution 1973 was aimed at protecting Libyan citizens from Gadhafi's regime. This intervention included establishing a no-fly zone and authorizing military strikes, which supported the resistance movement's success in overthrowing Gadhafi.
Step-by-step explanation:
The operation that enforced United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, centered on protecting Libyan citizens from further harm by Libyan leader Gadhafi, was implemented through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In 2011, NATO established a no-fly zone over Libya and authorized military strikes against Gadhafi's forces to prevent the massacre of civilians amid a civil war. Subsequently, resistance forces headquartered in Benghazi progressed across Libya, ultimately taking control of Tripoli and overthrowing Gadhafi. The National Transition Council (NTC) then became the transitional power base, signifying the end of Gadhafi's regime.
During the early stages of the Arab Spring and the Libyan civil war, the African Union (AU) sought to mediate the conflict. However, the NATO intervention limited the AU's activities in Libya. After Gadhafi lost power, the AU initially refused to recognize the NTC as the legitimate government of Libya. This initial refusal reflected the complex regional dynamics and the influence that external military intervention had on internal political outcomes.
Fueled by regional protests for democratic reform, the Libyan resistance movement gained momentum, leading to an armed revolution. This resistance aimed to end Gadhafi's 42-year rule, which had been characterized by authoritarian control over the government, the nation's rich oil revenues, and the suppression of personal freedoms. The Libyan revolution was significantly boosted by NATO's airstrikes and the no-fly zone, culminating in the successful removal of Gadhafi from power.