Operations Libyan dawn brought deployments to the Mediterranean area. The one at Souda (Crete, Greece) was the most interesting one. The multi-state NATO-led coalition began a military intervention - named Operation Unified Protector - in and over Libya. The Qatari Emeri Air Force deployed five Mirage 5EDAs and this sole 5DDA. The QEAF only flew Combat Air Patrols (air defence) during the operation, to prevent Libyan military aircraft to take off. Therefore they were armed with MICA and Magic R550 air to air missiles.

QA85 leading a formation of three Mirage 2000s (the EDAs are QA97 and QA98). The Mirage 2000s are assigned to 7sq and are recently sold to a French private company, Advanced REDAIR European Squadron (ARES), that will operate the twelve Qatar Emeri Air Force 2000s in a commercial Red Air training role. The QEAF ordered eight Mirage 2000EDA single seat and four Mirage 2000DDA (both a version of the Mirage 2000-5) in 1994. These aircraft were delivered from 1997 and replaced the Mirage F1 in their inventory. The Mirage 2000s are now replaced by Rafales and became surplus by the QEAF.