Just after 1.0 am on 15 April 1986 American jets flying from Britain roared low over Libya's coastline. Their target was Colonel Gadhafi's headquarters. Twelve minutes later, as Tripoli began to recover from the shock of bombs and rockets, the White House justified the raid as 'an act of self-defence'. American intelligence agencies, claimed President Reagan, had 'irrefutable Proof that Gadhafi had
Personally masterminded a succession of terrorist attacks against Americans. Bombing Tripoli was the president's answer to Gadhafi's challenges, taunts and crimes - the climax of a bitter five-year feud.
Yet intelligence chiefs in Europe and Israel are openly sceptical about the President's 'irrefutable' evidence.
With exclusive interviews revealing new evidence, Tom Bower has pieced together the extraordinary story of the events leading up to and following the bombing. Editor ARTHUR SOLOMON Executive producer JENNY BARRACLOUGH
Written and produced by TOM BOWER