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Libya Conflict in Pictures - President Obama addressed the nation Monday tonight about the United States’ involvement in the Libyan conflict. “At my direction, America led an effort with our allies at the United Nations Security Council to pass a historic resolution that authorized a no-fly zone to stop the regime’s attacks from the air, and further authorized all necessary measures to protect the Libyan people,” Obama said. In the past month following the unrest in Egypt, the conflict in Libya has seemingly gotten worse, with clashes between government forces and civilian rebels prompting attention from the United States and allied forces around the world. See how the Libyan conflict began and how it progressed to where we are today in the following pages. (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Protests - Following the resignation of longtime Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, small protests began in Libya on February 15 in response to stricter laws and the arrest of a human-rights lawyer by the government, headed by longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi. Antigovernment protesters attempted to take control of Benghazi, the nation’s second largest city. Here, a Libyan rebel gestures before moving closer to the front line after Gadhafi's forces fired on them on the outskirts of the city of Ajdabiya, south of Benghazi. (Photo: AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

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Protesters Energized - Even after the lawyer is released the next day, protesters remained energized—calling for Gadhafi to step down, a new constitution and other changes to the government. In an attempt to appease protesters, Gadhafi gave government workers a raise in salary and released more than 100 activists from prison. Here, Libyans in Benghazi are shown demanding the removal of Gadhafi. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

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Day of Rage - On February 17 antigovernment protesters across Libya united for a “Day of Rage.” The nationwide protests were organized largely using social media networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, and texting, since the government maintained a news blackout. One such text obtained by the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper read: "From the youth of Libya to all those who are tempted to touch the four red lines: Come and face us in any square or street in Libya." Antigovernment activists reported that government forces fired upon several of the protests, killing at least 20 and wounding scores more. (Photo: Ben Curtis/AP)

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Demonstrations Spread - By February 18 the protests had spread to more cities in the nation, but not capital city Tripoli. At least 24 people had been killed at this point, Human Rights Watch reported. Here, new rebel recruits chant slogans as they stand in formation during a training session after signing up with the forces fighting Gadhafi at a training base in Benghazi on March 1. (Photo: AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

Photo By AP Photo/Kevin Frayer

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Funeral Attack - On February 19, days after the protests began, government forces opened fire on marchers in a funeral procession honoring those who died in the recent protests. Human Rights Watch estimated that more than 100 people had died in clashes. In this March 9 photo, mourners in Benghazi carry the coffin of a rebel fighter who was killed fighting forces loyal to Gadhafi near the town of Bin Jawwad. (Photo: AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

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"Liberation" in Benghazi - Protesters reacted to the funeral violence on February 20 and massed in the streets of Benghazi, taking control of the key city and proclaiming “liberation.” The city, now a rebel stronghold, is the second largest in the nation. Here, Libyan people celebrate in the main square of Benghazi on March 18. (Photo: AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

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Gadhafi Speaks Out - In this picture, for the first time since the unrest began, Gadhafi speaks on state television on February 22, blaming the country’s current troubles on Al Qaeda and Western powers. The death toll is now estimated at more than 400. (Photo: AP Photo/Libyan state television via APTN)

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U.S. Officials Speak Out - On February 23, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke out against the Libyan regime, saying that the U.S. signed a U.N. statement condemning the violence. President Obama also issued a statement against the Libyan government: “We strongly condemn the violence in Libya. The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous. These actions violate international norms and common decency. The violence must stop ... We are preparing a full range of options,” he said. “It is the Libyan government’s responsibility to refrain from violence and they must be held accountable for failure to meet their responsibilities to the people of Libya.” In this photo, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discusses the latest developments in Libya, Syria and the Middle East on "Face the Nation" on March 26. (Photo: CBS/Chris Usher /Landov)

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Violence Continues - Rebels claimed control of the city of Misratah on February 24. Government forces bombed a mosque taken over by protesters in the city of Zawiyah, which is only 30 miles away from the capital, Tripoli. In this photo, Libyan rebels patrol the center of Benghazi on March 20. (Photo: AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Photo By AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus

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Americans Evacuated - Hundreds of Americans stranded in Libya left the nation February 24 on a chartered ferry to Malta. Here, evacuees carrying an American flag exit the ferry Maria Dolores, which arrived at Malta from Libya on February 26. Among the evacuees were 183 American citizens and embassy staff from Libya. (Photo: Roberto Runza/Getty Images)

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Sanctions - On February 25 the U.S. levied sanctions against Gadhafi’s regime. The next day, the U.N. also imposed sanctions and asked the International Criminal Court to investigate Gadhafi’s alleged crimes. In this photo, British ambassador Mark Lyall Grant and American ambassador Susan Rice agree during a Security Council vote on February 26. (Photo: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

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Rebel Leadership - On February 27 the rebels advanced, taking control of two important cities. Rebels named Gadhafi defector Mustafa Abd el-Jalil as interim prime minister for their transitional government. Here, he greets supporters at a university in the eastern town of Bayda, Libya, March 12. (Photo: AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)

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Asking for Help - On March 12, after Gadhafi forces briefly regained control of the town of Brega, rebels stepped up their pleas for foreign help. In response, the United States moved two warships closer to the nation to aid humanitarian efforts. Defense Secretary Robert Gates did not recommend implementing a no-fly zone (a ban on all flights in the country’s airspace) at this point, though other Arab nations and U.N. were considering it. In this photo, rebel fighters take cover during a shelling along the Benghazi-Ajdabiyah road near Ajdabiyah on March 24. (Photo: REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic)

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Getting Back Control - Gadhafi forces regained control of Ras Lanuf and Brega as they moved closer to the rebel capital of Benghazi on March 13 and 14. After they take control of Ajdabiya, Gadhafi’s son proclaims that the rebels will be defeated within 48 hours. France pushes the no-fly zone in a letter to the U.N. Security Council. Pro-government supporters are shown here during February's demonstrations. (Photo: REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny /Landov)

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U.N. Passes No-Fly Resolution - On March 17 the United Nations passed Resolution 1973, which authorized a no-fly zone and “all necessary measures.” In this image made available by Britain's Ministry of Defence, a RAF Tornado jet takes off from RAF Marham, England, as part of Operation Ellamy, the U.K. contribution to the enforcement of the no-fly zone over Libya. (Photo: AP Photo / Lisa Conway, Ministry of Defence)

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Gadhafi’s Cease-Fire - The government called for a ceasefire March 18, but continued to fight and attempted to regain the rebel capital Benghazi on March 19. That same day, Western missile strikes started in the city, destroying several of Gadhafi’s tanks and other equipment. Gadhafi is pictured here at a press conference earlier in March. (Photo: Maxppp/Landov)

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Attacks on Gadhafi Compound - Forces from the U.S. and Europe launched missile attacks near Gadhafi’s home in Tripoli on March 20. A satellite image of his compound earlier this month is shown here. (Photo: AP Photo/GeoEye)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/GeoEye

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Publicizing the Effort - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates talk about the latest developments in the Middle East during a taped segment of NBC’s Meet the Press March 26 in Washington, D.C. Gates said he doesn’t think Libya is “a vital interest” for the United States, but that the North African nation is part of a region that is of vital American interest. (Photo: AP Photo/NBC, William B. Plowman)

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Obama Defends Air Strikes - Amid growing criticism domestically and abroad, President Obama defended the U.S. involvement in Libya on March 26, saying Gadhafi had “lost the confidence of his people and the legitimacy to rule.” (Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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Libyan Refugee - The number of Libyans who fled the nation for neighboring countries reached almost 200,000 in early March. In this photo, a Libyan refugee cleans his teeth at a camp near the Tunisia-Libyan border in Ras Ajdir, Tunisia, on March 26. (Photo: AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

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Charting Rebel Advances - This graphic from the Associated Press shows how the Libyan rebels have managed to regain some of the territory they had lost to government forces.