NATO Newsletter
NATO Newsletter
09 May. 2011

Operational Media Update for 8 May 2011

NATO and Libya

Issued on 09 May. 2011
 

09 May. JFC Naples, SHAPE, NATO HQ

Mission
NATO took control of all military operations for Libya under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 & 1973 on 31 March 2011. 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 5822 sorties, including 2326 strike sorties* have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 08 May: 159
Strike sorties conducted 08 May: 64

*Strike sorties are intended to identify and engage appropriate targets, but do not necessarily deploy munitions each time.

Key Targets hit
08 May: In the vicinity of Zintan: 4 Ammunition Storages. In the vicinity of Ajdabiyah: 1 Command & Control Node. In the vicinity of Misurata: 5 Rocket Launchers, 1 Self-Propelled Artillery Piece, 1 Truck-Mounted Gun, 3 Buildings hosting active shooters. In the vicinity of Hun: 26 Ammunition Storages, 16 Vehicle Storages. In the vicinity of Brega: 8 Military Vehicles. In the vicinity of Al-Aziziyah: 2 Ammunition Storages. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 2 Military Operational Facilities.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 20 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
12 Vessels were hailed on 08 May to determine destination and cargo. 0 boarding (no diversions) were conducted.
A total of 864 vessels have been hailed, 34 boardings and 5 diversions have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.

International Humanitarian Assistance Movements as recorded by NATO
Total of Humanitarian Movements***: 168 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 08 May: 0
Aircraft delivering Humanitarian Assistance 08 May: 4

***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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