A British sailor has gone missing in Dubai, forcing his ship to leave the emirate without him, the Royal Navy said Friday as his family issued a plea for information on his whereabouts.

British forces on Sunday took part in a "co-ordinated strike against Libyan air defence systems", the country's military said.

Britain said on Sunday its air and sea strikes on Libya had been "very successful" and stressed it was doing everything it could to avoid civilian casualties as it enforces a UN-sanctioned no-fly zone.

Britain bombarded Libya with missiles from air and sea as multinational forces launched military action, with Prime Minister David Cameron urging an end to Moamer Kadhafi's "appalling brutality".

RAF Tornado jets have hit Libyan targets with cruise missiles on a long-range bombing mission, London's first air strikes in the military action, defence officials said Sunday.

(Reuters) - Military action authorized by the United Nations against Libyan forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi could take place under NATO command or under a coalition of the willing led by France and Britain.

Britain is moving Tornado and Typhoon fighter jets to bases near Libya to stop Moamer Kadhafi's forces unleashing a "bloodbath" against civilians, Prime Minister David Cameron said Friday.