Central African Republic operation: Rafale show of force, UK air support and US ready to join.

France beagn its operation to stabilize the Central African Republic yesterday night. Today two Dassault Rafale made a "show of force", in Bangui, the state's capital and are ready to intervene if necessary. On the other hand the UK is providing logistical assistance to the French forces with a Boeing C-17 Galaxy III and the U.S. forces are standing at the ready to provide support for French and African troops battling rebel forces in the Central African Republic, according to the Pentagon's top military officer.

As the situation on the ground degraded rapidly yesterday night with massacre report, the French intervention began soon after the UN vote on the use of military force, if necessary, in the African country.

The British government says it is flying military equipment to the Central African Republic on a C-17 to help with France's intervention there.

Foreign Secretary William Hague says the U.K. agreed to provide a C-17 transport aircraft for the French military effort, which began overnight with patrols and a helicopter detachment arriving to quell violence in the streets of the capital, Bangui.

Hague said in a statement Friday the aircraft will make three flights this month - with the first due to land in Central African Republic "shortly." The Foreign Office has said sending combat troops to the Central African Republic is "not on the table."

U.S. forces are standing at the ready to provide support for French and African troops battling rebel forces in the Central African Republic, according to the Pentagon's top military officer.

"We're in contact with our French counterparts" regarding the ongoing operation in Africa, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey said Wednesday.

Paris has yet to make a formal request for American troops or military assets to back up the United Nations-mandated peacekeeping mission in the central African nation, Dempsey told reporters at the Pentagon.

"As close partners, bilaterally but also through NATO, we would do whatever we could, " he said, "within our means and capabilities" to supplement French military units on the ground in Africa.