1978: First American sanctions (military embargo).
1979: Tripoli supports the Iranian revolution. Riots and fire of the American embassy in Tripoli.
1980: Aerial combats, without casualties over Gulf of Sidra.
1981:
- May 6, 1981: The State Department expels all Libyan diplomats.
- August 19, 1981: Aerial combats, two Libyan planes cut down after having attacked two American planes which "would have violated the Libyan airspace".
1982: Aggravation of the sanctions (economic embargo)
1986:
- Jan 7/8 : American embargo on economic exchanges with Libya and freezing of the Libyan assets in the US banks after charges against Libya of supporting terrorism.
- March 24/25: Naval action of US against Libyan forces in the Gulf of Sidra. 58 Libyans killed, according to Tripoli.
- April 5: Washington implicates Libya in an attack against a discotheque frequented by Americans in Berlin.
- 15 April: American air raid on Tripoli and Benghazi: 41 dead.
1987:
- Dec. 23: Washington announces its "concern" with regard to construction near Rabta (south-western of Tripoli) of a factory which could be used for manufacture of chemical weapons. According to Tripoli, it is a pharmaceutical factory.
1988:
- Dec. 21: attack on plane near Lockerbie (270 dead)
1989:
- Jan.4: Aerial combat USA-Libya in the Mediterranean, two Libyan fighter jets downed.
1991:
- Nov. 14: The United States finds in court that Libya perpetrated the Lockerbie attack and declares that two Libyan agents guilty.
1992:
- March 28: Freezing by Washington of the accounts and assets in the United States of 46 multinationals under Libyan control.
- March 31: Resolution 748 adopted by the Security Council of UN: air and military embargo.
- Dec. 15: Washington extends its air embargo against Libya, thereafter the UN and the USA renew their sanctions every year.
1993:
- Dec. 1: Entry into force of new economic sanctions (in particular embargo on goods related to oil industry) against Tripoli, issued on November 11 (resolution 883) by UN.
1994:
- June 17: Kadhafi proposes the creation of a fund for the families of the victims of Lockerbie.
1996:
- August 5: Bill Clinton signs the "Oil Sanctions Act" (or Amato law), sanctioning all companies that invest in oil cargo and transport or gas exploration and drilling in Libya.
1998:
- August 24: London and Washington accept that two suspects in the Lockerbie attack be judged in The Hague (Netherlands) by a Scottish court. Libya accepts thereafter (??).
1999:
- April 5: Suspension of the international sanctions after the transfer of the two suspects to the Netherlands.
2000:
- March 22: Libya rejects the charges of the CIA that she posseses biological and chemical weapons.
2001:
- Jan 31 : After the verdict on the attack, Libya requires the "immediate lifting of the sanctions" imposed by UN as well as "repairs".
- July 26: Extension for five years of the Amato law .
- August 3: George W Bush launches a call in Iran and Libya, promising more constructive relations if they cease supporting terrorism. -
2003:
- April 29: Libya announces to agreement to assume her civil liability for the Lockerbie attack.
- August 13: Agreement between Libya, Great Britain and the United States on the compensation for the victims of Lockerbie.
- Sept. 12 : The Security Council of the United Nations votes to lift sanctions against Libya. Washington and Paris abstain. The United States maintains the bilateral sanctions on Libya and urges Tripoli to continue "to try destroy" WMD.
- Nov. 20: The United States renews their travel advisory against nationals travelling to Libya.
