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19 April. JFC Naples, SHAPE, NATO HQ
Mission
On March 27, NATO decided to take control over all military operations for Libya under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 & 1973. The aim of Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR is to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas under attack or threat of attack.
The mission consists of three elements: an arms embargo, a no-fly-zone and actions to protect civilians from attack or the threat of attack.
Over the past 24 hours, NATO has conducted the following activities associated with Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR:
Air Operations
Since the beginning of the NATO operation (31 March 2011, 08.00GMT) a total of 2,877 sorties and 1,199 strike sorties* have been conducted.
Sorties conducted 18 April: 143
Strike sorties conducted 17 April: 53
*Strike sorties are intended to identify and engage appropriate targets, but do not necessarily deploy munitions each time.
Key Targets and Engagements**
17 April: In the vicinity of Tripoli: 9 ammunition bunkers and 1 building (HQ of 32nd Brigade) were destroyed. In the vicinity of Misrata: 6 surface to air missiles, 4 tanks, 3 air defence missile sites and 1 mobile rocket launcher were destroyed. In the vicinity of Sirte: 3 ammunition storage bunkers destroyed. In the vicinity of Zintan: 3 tanks, 1 anti-aircraft weapon system and 1 armoured vehicles were destroyed. In the vicinity of Brega: 1 building was destroyed
**Key Engagements are not intended to give a complete account of all targets which were engaged.
Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 18 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
38 Vessels were hailed on 18 April to determine destination and cargo. No boarding was conducted (no diversion).
A total of 422 vessels have been hailed, 10 boardings and 3 diversions have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.
International Humanitarian Assistance Movements as recorded by NATO
Total of Humanitarian Movements ***: 83 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 17 April: 0 executed and 10 in execution.
Aircraft delivering Humanitarian Assistance 17 April: 3
*** Some humanitarian movements cover several days.
Command and Control
NATO’s operational commander for Operation Unified Protector is Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard of the Canadian Air Force. His office and staff is located at the Joint Force Command in Naples.
More information on Operation Unified Protector
- www.jfcnaples.nato.int
- www.manp.nato.int
- www.nato.int/libya
Media Inquiries to:
NATO HQ Press Desk
+32 (0) 2 707 1010
+32 (0) 2707 1007
Mail to: moc@hq.nato.int
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