Operational Media Update for 1 July 2011

NATO and Libya

02 July. 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 13,460 sorties, including 5,047 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 01 JULY: 136

Strike sorties conducted 01 JULY: 42

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

Key Hits

01 JULY: In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Military facility, 3 Radars, 2 Anti-Aircraft Guns, 1 Surface-to-Air Missle Launcher, 4 Tanks, 1 Command and Control Vehicle. In the vicinity of Gharyan: 2 Tanks. In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Military Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Bir Al Ghanam: 2 Armed Vehicles.

Arms Embargo Activities

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

17 Vessels were hailed on 01 JULY to determine destination and cargo. 2 boardings (no denials) were conducted.

A total of 1593 vessels have been hailed, 137 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**: 435 (air, ground, maritime)

Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 01 JULY: 3

Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 01 JULY: 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.