06 Jul. 2011

NATO cuts off pro-Qadhafi access to fuel in Brega

Issued on 06 Jul. 2011

On 6 July 2011, NATO aircraft struck military refuelling equipment to deny pro-Qadhafi forces access to fuel in the Brega area. Sustained observation of the area by NATO intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets proved it was being used to provide fuel for military vehicles and equipment engaging in attacks on civilians in the East of Libya.

Great care was taken at all times to minimise the risk to civilian infrastructure located in close proximity to the refuelling equipment. The strikes were therefore targeted on specific military re-fuelling equipment only, determined as sufficient to deny the use of the equipment by pro-Qadhafi forces.

“These precision strikes will limit the ability of pro-Qadhafi forces to threaten Libyan civilians and significantly degrade logistical support for Qadhafi’s campaign in Eastern Libya,” said Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, Commander of Operation Unified Protector.

NATO’s Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR is being conducted under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which calls for an immediate end to all attacks against civilians and authorizes all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in Libya.

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