Britain will move fighter jets to bases near Libya in the "coming hours" as part of the international operation to enforce the UN Security Council resolution, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Friday.
Cameron said Britain would take part in a joint mission with US and French forces along with Arab support to create a no-fly zone to prevent Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's troops from attacking civilians.
"At Cabinet this morning, we agreed the UK will play its part," Cameron told parliament, following the UN Security Council late on Thursday.
"Our forces will join an international operation to enforce the resolution if Gaddafi fails to comply with its demand that he ends attacks on civilians," he added.
"The defence secretary and I have now instructed the chief of the defence staff to work urgently with our allies to put in place the appropriate military measures to enforce the resolution including a no-fly zone.
"I can tell the house that we will deploy Tornado and Typhoon as well as air-to-air refuelling and surveillance aircraft.
"Preparations to deploy these have already started and in the coming hours they will move to airbases from where they can take the necessary action."
Britain has an airbase on Cyprus which could be used to launch attacks and it also has two frigates, HMS Cumberland and HMS Westminster, already in the Mediterranean.
Cameron had joined French President Nicolas Sarkozy in pushing for military action in Libya in the face of initial reluctance from the United States.