U.S./LIBYA CHRONOLOGY

The U.S. attack on Libya follows years of acrimony, threats and even skirmishes between the two countries. Following is a brief chronology of major incidents leading up to Tuesday’s air strike:

Dec. 2, 1979 -- Mob chanting support for Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini attacks and sets fire to U.S. Embassy in Tripoli.

Feb. 6, 1980 -- U.S. virtually closes down its embassy following attacks on two French missions in Libya.

April-May -- U.S. expels Libyan diplomats amid alleged efforts to intimidate Libyan students in U.S. and murder of Libyan dissidents in Europe.

May 6, 1981 -- U.S. closes down Libyan Embassy in Washington and expels diplomats, accusing them of conduct contrary to internationally accepted standards of diplomatic behavior.

Aug. 19 -- Two U.S. F-14s shoot down two Soviet-built Libyan SU-22s over Gulf of Sidra, claimed by Libya as its territory. U.S., which considers most of gulf international waters, says Libyans fired first.

November -- Reports surface saying Libya sent “hit teams” to North America to assassinate President Reagan, Vice President George Bush and other top officials. Government beefs up security around public buildings, including White House.

Dec. 11 -- U.S. restricts use of American passports for travel to Libya.

March 10, 1982 -- U.S. announces ban on imports of Libyan crude oil and expands controls on U.S. goods intended for export to Libya.

February, 1983 -- U.S. sends four AWACS radar planes to Egypt amid reports of military buildup by Libya near its border with Sudan. U.S. says F-14 jets chased off two Libyan MIG-23s that approached aircraft carrier Nimitz near Gulf of Sidra.

March, 1984 -- U.S. further expands export controls aimed at Libya, sends two AWACS planes to Egypt, fearing Libyan threat to Sudan.

June 4, 1985 -- U.S. expels Libyan diplomat at United Nations, charging he was involved in plot against Libyan dissidents in U.S.

January, 1986 -- Reagan moves to isolate Libya after accusing its leader, Moammar Kadafi, of sponsoring international terrorism and harboring Palestinian terrorist group led by Abu Nidal, blamed for attacks on airports in Rome and Vienna in December. Twenty people died in the incidents, including five Americans.

Reagan announces new economic sanctions against Libya 11 days after the attacks on the two airports. Virtually all trade is banned, and U.S. citizens are barred from granting loans to Tripoli government.

Reagan also orders Americans working in Libya to return home and bans travel to the Arab state.

March 24-25 -- Libya fires missiles at U.S. aircraft in Gulf of Sidra during U.S. military maneuvers in the area. U.S. retaliates by launching missile attacks on Libyan patrol boats and land-based missile site at Surt.

April 2 April 2 -- Bomb explodes on U.S. airliner over Greece. Four Americans, including baby girl, are killed.

April 5 -- Bomb in West Berlin discotheque used by U.S. servicemen kills American soldier and Turkish woman and injures more than 200 people.

France orders two Libyan diplomats to leave, charging they were in contact with people likely to attack American interests. Libya denies accusation.

April 9 April 9 -- Reagan labels Kadafi “mad dog of the Middle East,” calls Libya a suspect in the discotheque attack and airliner bombing.

West Germany expels two Libyan diplomats, accusing them of activities incompatible with their diplomatic status, but says they were not linked with discotheque bombing.

April 10 -- Spain recalls ambassador in Libya for consultations after Kadafi is quoted as saying his country would hit civilian and military targets in nations with U.S. military bases if Libya was attacked by Americans.

U.S. carrier Coral Sea leaves Spain and joins carrier America in the Mediterranean.

April 12 -- Washington dispatches special envoy Vernon A. Walters to consult European allies as U.S. warships gather in Mediterranean.

April 13 -- Libya issues statement saying it opposes all terrorist operations and calling for Arab support if it is attacked by U.S.

April 14 -- European Communities’ foreign ministers meet in emergency session in attempt to defuse confrontation between Reagan and Kadafi. They announce arms ban on Libya and restrictions on movements of Libyan diplomats and nationals.

Libya says it has singled out U.S. nuclear bases in Europe for retaliation if attacked. Kadafi says suicide squads are ready to attack U.S.

April 15 -- Libya is hit by U.S. air strikes. White House says Libya bears direct responsibility for West Berlin discotheque blast and adds there is clear evidence that it is planning further attacks. But presidential spokesman Larry Speakes says there is “no direct evidence” linking Tripoli with the airliner bomb. Reagan tells the U.S. people: “Today we have done what we had to do; if necessary, we will do it again.”