Operational Media Update for 13 July 2011

NATO and Libya

14 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 15,061 sorties, including 5,673 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 13 JULY: 130

Strike sorties conducted 13 JULY: 50

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

Key Hits 13 JULY:

In the vicinity of Brega: 1 Command and Control Node, 1 Tank, 4 Armed Vehicles.

In the vicinity of Misrata: 2 Command and Control Centers, 1 Armoured Fighting Vehicle,

1 Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 Artillery Piece, 1 Armed Vehicle.

In the vicinity of Tripoli: 6 Surface-to-Air-Missile Launchers.

In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Military Storage Facility.

In the vicinity of Waha: 1 Command and Control Center

Arms Embargo Activities

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

7 Vessels were hailed on 13 JULY to determine destination and cargo. 1 boarding (no denial) was conducted.

A total of 1750 vessels have been hailed, 165 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**: 519 (air, ground, maritime)

Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 12 JULY: 0

Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 12 JULY: 8

**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.