Operational Media Update for 17 May 2011

NATO and Libya

18 May. Allied Joint Force Command NAPLES, SHAPE, NATO HQ
(more information: http://www.jfcnaples.nato.int/)

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 7103 sorties, including 2755 strike sorties* have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 17 May: 159
Strike sorties conducted 17 May: 53

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

Key Targets Hit
17 May: In the vicinity of Tripoli: 2 Tanks, 2 Armoured Personnel Carriers, 2 Surface-To-Air Missile Launchers, 1 Fire Control Radar, 1 Target Acquisition Radar. In the vicinity of Misrata: 1 Command & Control Bunker, 1 Rocket Launcher, 6 Truck-Mounted Guns.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 21 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
13 Vessels were hailed on 17 May to determine destination and cargo. 1 boarding (no diversion) was conducted.
A total of 954 vessels have been hailed, 41 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***: 222 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 17 May: 2
Aircraft delivering Humanitarian Assistance 17 May: 2

***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 Naples.