NATO Newsletter
NATO Newsletter
13 May. 2011

Operational Media Update for 12 May 2011

NATO and Libya

Issued on 13 May. 2011
 

13 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 6377 sorties, including 2512 strike sorties* have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 12 May: 145
Strike sorties conducted 12 May: 52

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

Key Targets Hit
12 May: In the vicinity of Tripoli: 2 Surface-To-Air Missile Launchers, 3 Buildings inside a military camp. In the vicinity of Misratah: 1 Surface-To-Air Missile Launcher, 2 Buildings, 1 Truck-Mounted Gun, 1 Anti-Aircraft Gun. In the vicinity of Al Qaryat: 10 Ammo Storages. In the vicinity of Sirte: 5 Ammo Storages, 1 Command & Control Node. In the vicinity of Brega: 1 Rocket Launcher, 1 Tank.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 20 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
6 Vessels were hailed on 12 May to determine destination and cargo. No boardings and no diversions were conducted.
A total of 905 vessels have been hailed, 37 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***: 185 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 12 May: 5
Aircraft delivering Humanitarian Assistance 12 May: 5

***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 Allied 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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