The Regime Change in Libya Policy refers to the U.S.-led NATO military intervention in Libya in 2011, initiated during the Arab Spring uprising against Muammar Gaddafi's regime. The policy's stated purpose was to protect civilians from government forces under the 'Responsibility to Protect' (R2P) doctrine, authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 1973 on 2011-03-17, which imposed a no-fly zone and allowed all necessary measures to enforce an arms embargo and civilian protection. However, it effectively supported rebel forces aiming for regime change, leading to NATO airstrikes, naval blockades, and intelligence support that facilitated the overthrow and death of Gaddafi on 2011-10-20. Advocated by neoconservatives and humanitarian interventionists in the U.S., including figures like Hillary Clinton and Susan Rice, the intervention was criticized for exceeding the UN mandate and contributing to post-conflict instability, civil war, and the rise of extremism in Libya.