Operational Media Update for 24 June 2011

NATO and Libya

25 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 12484 sorties, including 4703 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 24 JUNE: 137
Strike sorties conducted 24 JUNE: 43

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

Key Hits
24 JUNE: In the vicinity of Brega: 7 Command & Control Nodes, 1 Military Storage Facility, 14 Truck-Mounted Guns, 1 Tank, 2 Armoured Personnel Carriers, 3 Logistic Trucks, 7 Military Shelters. In the vicinity of Gharyan: 1 Early Warning Radar, 1 Truck-Mounted Gun. In the vicinity of Zlitan: 2 Artillery Pieces, 1 Mortar, 1 Truck-Mounted Gun. In the vicinity of Okba: 3 Surface-To-Air Missile Loader Vehicles.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 20 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
5 Vessels were hailed on 24 JUNE to determine destination and cargo. 2 boardings (no denials) were conducted.
A total of 1508 vessels have been hailed, 119 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***: 409 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 24 JUNE: 1
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 24 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.