Operational Media Update for 21 May 2011

NATO and Libya

22 May. Allied Joint Force Command NAPLES, SHAPE, NATO HQ
            (more information: 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 7732 sorties, including 2975 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 21 May: 147
Strike sorties conducted 21 May: 49

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

Key Hits
21 May: In Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Facility. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Facility, 1 Ammunition Storage Facility. In Sirte: 1 Naval Asset. In the vicinity of Al Khums: 2 Land-Based Air Defence Radars. In the vicinity of Zintan: 1 Tank, 1 Military Logistic Truck.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 21 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
10 Vessels were hailed on 21 May to determine destination and cargo. No boardings (no diversions) were conducted.
A total of 1002 vessels have been hailed. 47 boardings and 7 diversions have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.

International Humanitarian Assistance Movements as recorded by NATO
Total of Humanitarian Movements***: 240 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 21 May: 1
Aircraft delivering Humanitarian Assistance 21 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.