Operational Media Update for 8 June 2011

NATO and Libya

09 June. 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 10290 sorties, including 3907 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 08 JUNE: 113
Strike sorties conducted 08 JUNE: 47

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

Key Hits
08 JUNE: In Tripoli: 1 Vehicle Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Tripoli:1 Surface To Air Missile Storage Facility, 1 Surface To Air Missile Site, 1 Command and Control Facility, 1 Tank, 4 Armoured Fighting Vehicles. In the vicinity of Misurata: 1 Electronic Warfare Vehicle, 1 Military Training Camp comprising 5 Shelters, 9 Containers, 1 Air Asset.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 19 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
11 Vessels were hailed on 08 JUNE to determine destination and cargo. 2 boardings (no denials) were conducted.
A total of 1237 vessels have been hailed. 82 boardings and 8 denials have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.

International Humanitarian Assistance Movements as recorded by NATO
Total of Humanitarian Movements***: 343 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 08 JUNE: 2
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 08 JUNE: 3

***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.