Operational Media Update for 20 June 2011

NATO and Libya

21 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 11930 sorties, including 4521 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 20 JUNE: 149

Strike sorties conducted 20 JUNE: 52

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

Key Hits

20 JUNE: In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Node, 8 Surface-To-Air Missile Launchers, 1 Surface-To-Air Missile Transport Vehicle. In the vicinity of Misratah: 3 Truck-Mounted Guns, 2 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns, 1 Tank. In the vicinity of Tarhunah: 1 Military Equipment Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Al-Khums: 1 Military Vehicle Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Zintan: 1 Rocket Launcher.

Arms Embargo Activities

A total of 20 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.

13 Vessels were hailed on 20 JUNE to determine destination and cargo. 1 boarding (no denial) was conducted.

A total of 1452 vessels have been hailed, 106 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***: 386 (air, ground, maritime)

Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 20 JUNE: 3

Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 20 JUNE: 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.