Operational Media Update for 26 May 2011

NATO and Libya

27 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 8444 sorties, including 3229 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 26 May: 140

Strike sorties conducted 26 May: 54

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

Key Hits

26 May: In Tripoli: 1 Armoured Vehicle Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Surface-To-Air Missile Storage Facility, 2 Command & Control Nodes. In the vicinity of Sirte : 1 Ammunition Storage Facility, 1 Command & Control Node. In the vicinity of Zuwarah: 1 Ammunition Storage and 4 Aircrafts in an Airfield. In the vicinity of Misratah: 1 Rocket Launcher, 3 Self-Propelled Artillery Pieces, 1 Truck-Mounted Gun. In the vicinity of Al Khums: 1 Surface-To-Air Missile Launcher. In the vicinity of Hun: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility.

Arms Embargo Activities

A total of 21 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.

10 Vessels were hailed on 26 May to determine destination and cargo. 3 boardings (no diversion) were conducted.

A total of 1060 vessels have been hailed. 56 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***: 267 (air, ground, maritime)

Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 26 May: 5

Aircraft delivering Humanitarian Assistance 26 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.