© 2025 St. Louis Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Here's what defunding NPR means for St. Louis Public Radio.

Scott AFB Ill. Air National Guard unit supports effort over Libya

The Belleville Gate entrance to Scott Air Force Base near Belleville, Ill.
(via Wikimedia commons/SSGT CHAD R. GANN, USAF)
The Belleville Gate entrance to Scott Air Force Base near Belleville, Ill.

A unit of the Illinois Air National Guard is joining the mission to maintain a no-fly zone over Libya.

The 126th Air Refueling Wing is based out of Scott Air Force Base in southwest Illinois. It refuels aircraft in mid-air at speeds of more than 500 mph.

The unit flies the KC-135R Stratotanker. That's the military version of the Boeing 707.

Maj. Gen. William Enyart of the Illinois National Guard said in a statement that he's proud that the unit is playing a role in curbing violence against Libyan civilians by their own government.

The Pentagon said Monday that the no-fly zone is working and will be expanded to the Libyan capital of Tripoli soon.