Operational Media Update for 9 July 2011

NATO and Libya

10 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, 06.00GMT) a total of 14,533 sorties, including 5,485 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 09 JULY: 112

Strike sorties conducted 09 JULY:48

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

Key Hits 09 JULY:

In the vicinity of Brega: 1 Armed Vehicle, 1 Tank.

In the vicinity of Misrata: 1 Armoured Fighting Vehicle, 4 Armed Vehicles, 1 Missile Site, 4 Artillery Pieces, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher.

In vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Military Storage Facilities, 5 Surface-to-Air-Missile Launchers.

In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Military Storage Facility, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher.

In the vicinity of Gharyan-Yafran: 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher, 1 Tank.

In the vicinity of Ras Lanuf: 1 Artillery Piece.

In the vicinity of Zintan: 1 Artillery Piece.

Arms Embargo Activities

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

11 Vessels were hailed on 09 JULY to determine destination and cargo. 1 boarding (no denials) were conducted.

A total of 1697 vessels have been hailed, 159 boardings and 9 denials have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.

International Humanitarian Assistance Movements as recorded by NATO

Total of Humanitarian Movements**: 479 (air, ground, maritime)

Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 09 JULY: 1

Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 09 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.