Operational Media Update for 25 May 2011

NATO and Libya

26 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 8304 sorties, including 3175 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 25 May: 136
Strike sorties conducted 25 May: 42

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

Key Hits
25 May: In Tripoli: 1 Military Vehicle Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Nalut: 1 Armoured Vehicle Storage and Maintenance Area, 1 Helicopter. In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility, 1 Command & Control Node, 1 Military Vehicle. In the vicinity of Mizdah: 1 Surface-To-Air Missile Launcher.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 21 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
11 Vessels were hailed on 25 May to determine destination and cargo. 2 boardings (no diversions) were conducted.
A total of 1050 vessels have been hailed. 53 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***: 260 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 25 May: 1
Aircraft delivering Humanitarian Assistance 25 May: 1

***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.