Operational Media Update for 13 June 2011

NATO and Libya

14 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 10971 sorties, including 4164 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 13 JUNE: 149
Strike sorties conducted 13 JUNE: 62

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

Key Hits
13 JUNE: In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Surface-To-Air Missile Launcher and Detection Radar. In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Misratah: 1 Command & Control Facility, 1 Towed Artillery Piece, 3 Truck-Mounted Guns, 2 Military Trucks, 1 Shelter. In the vicinity of Zlitan: 1 Armoured Vehicle Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Piece.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 19 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
22 Vessels were hailed on 13 JUNE to determine destination and cargo. 4 boardings (no denials) were conducted.
A total of 1330 vessels have been hailed, 93 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***: 352 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 13 JUNE: 2
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 13 JUNE: 0

***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.