Operational Media Update for 29 June 2011

NATO and Libya

30 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 13,184 sorties, including 4,963 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 29 JUNE: 149

Strike sorties conducted 29 JUNE: 55

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

Key Hits

29 JUNE: In Brega: 12 Military Vehicles, 1 Military Truck, 1 Armoured Personnel Carrier, 1 Ammunition Storage, 1 Military Compound, 1 Military Checkpoint. In the vicinity of Misrata: 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher, 5 Battle Tanks, 2 Artillery Pieces, 3 Military Vehicles. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Self-propelled Anti Aircraft Gun, 1 Military Technical Vehicle, 2 Multiple Rocket Launchers, 1 Military Equipment Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Gharyan: 4 Battle Tanks , 1 Military Technical Vehicle, 1 Heavy Equipment Transport. In the vicinity of Sirt: 1 Battle Tank, 1 Military Technical Vehicle. In Waddan: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Nalut: 1 Military Technical Vehicle.

Arms Embargo Activities

A total of 17 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.

12 Vessels were hailed on 29 JUNE to determine destination and cargo. 3 boardings (no denials) were conducted.

A total of 1568 vessels have been hailed, 132 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***: 425 (air, ground, maritime)

Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 29 JUNE: 2

Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 29 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.