Operational Media Update for 17 June 2011

NATO and Libya

18 June. Allied Joint Force Command NAPLES, SHAPE, NATO HQ
            (more information: 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 11526 sorties, including 4357 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 17 JUNE: 139
Strike sorties conducted 17 JUNE: 50

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

Key Hits
17 JUNE: In Tripoli: 2 Military Vehicle Storage Facilities. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Armoured Vehicle Storage and Maintenance Facility, 3 Surface-To-Air Missile Loaders, 3 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns. In the vicinity of Misratah: 1 Rocket Launcher, 3 Tanks, 1 Military Truck. In the vicinity of Zintan: 5 Truck-Mounted Guns, 2 Anti-Aircraft Guns.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 20 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
22 Vessels were hailed on 17 JUNE to determine destination and cargo. No boarding (no denial) was conducted.
A total of 1414 vessels have been hailed, 100 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***: 371 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 17 JUNE: 1
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 17 JUNE: 4

***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.