The military action launched by the United States and its allies against Libya may force rebels to join forces with Libya's strongman Muammar Gaddafi, a military diplomat in the region told RIA Novosti over the phone on Sunday.

The expert said that the air strikes launched by the U.S. and allied forces could also inflict casualties on the rebels.

"The situation in Libya is very complicated; the conflicting parties are at a short distance from each other and the missile attacks launched by the NATO countries the other day may trigger an opposite reaction, as a result of which the so-called opposition and rebels will join forces with Gaddafi," the expert said.

The expert said that the air strikes were destroying civilian and economic facilities and the declared goals of creating a no-fly zone over Libya ran counter to the U.S.-led coalition's real actions.

"The American and French military who have attacked Libyan sites are treading on a very dangerous line beyond which irreversible consequences may start and cause large-scale combat operations," the expert said.

The military operation against Gaddafi who has ruled the country with an iron fist for more than 40 years began on Saturday, involving the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and other countries.

A new UN Security Council resolution on Libya adopted on Thursday encompasses a no-fly zone and "all necessary measures" against forces loyal to Gaddafi.

The U.S. Pentagon reported that a U.S. warship fired 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Gaddafi's air defense sites. The U.S. operation is named "Odyssey Dawn".

Libyan television reported citing military officials that at least 50 civilians were killed and over 150 wounded in military attacks of the coalition forces, adding that many health and education facilities were ruined.