Operational Media Update for 30 May 2011

NATO and Libya

31 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 9036 sorties, including 3443 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 30 May: 158

Strike sorties conducted 30 May: 58

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

Key Hits

30 May: In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Vehicle Storage Facility, 2 Surface-To-Air Missile Launchers, 1 Target Acquisition Radar. In the vicinity of Mizdah: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Misratah: 1 Command & Control Node, 3 Truck-Mounted Guns, 3 Tanks, 3 Heavy Equipment Transports, 1 Surface-To-Air Missile Launcher. In the vicinity of Hun: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Zintan: 1 Surface-To-Air Missile Launcher, 2 Target Acquisition Radars. In the vicinity of Brega: 1 Artillery Piece. In the vicinity of Ras Lanuf: 1 Command & Control Node.

Arms Embargo Activities

A total of 19 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.

11 Vessels were hailed on 30 May to determine destination and cargo. 1 boarding (no denial) was conducted.

A total of 1104 vessels have been hailed. 61 boardings and 7 denials have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.

International Humanitarian Assistance Movements as recorded by NATO

Total of Humanitarian Movements***: 292 (air, ground, maritime)

Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 30 May: 5

Aircraft delivering Humanitarian Assistance 30 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.