Operational Media Update for 12 July 2011

NATO and Libya

13 July. 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, 06.00GMT) a total of 14,931 sorties, including 5,623 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 12 JULY: 127

Strike sorties conducted 12 JULY: 35

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

Key Hits 12 JULY:

In the vicinity of Brega: 1 Military Storage Facility.

In the vicinity of Misrata: 2 Multiple Rocket Launchers, 1 Armed Vehicle.

In the vicinity of Sirt: 1 Armoured Personnel Carrier.

In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Radar, 5 Surface-to-Air-Missile Launchers.

Arms Embargo Activities

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

20 Vessels were hailed on 12 JULY to determine destination and cargo. 4 boarding (no denials) was conducted.

A total of 1743 vessels have been hailed, 164 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**: 511 (air, ground, maritime)

Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 12 JULY: 0

Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 12 JULY: 9

**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.