Operational Media Update for 24 July 2011

NATO and Libya

25 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 16,444 sorties, including 6,185 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 24 JULY: 163
Strike sorties conducted 24 JULY: 43

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

Key Hits 23 JULY:
In the vicinity of Brega: 1 Military Storage Facility.
In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Surface-to-Air Missile Launcher, 1 Military Storage Facility, 1 Tank.
In the vicinity of Waddan:1 Ammunition Storage Facility.
In the vicinity of Zintan: 1 Tank
In the vicinity of Zlitan: 2 Ammuntion Storage Facility, 1 Command and Control Node.
In the vicinity of Gharyan: 1 Tank, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 17 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
19 Vessels were hailed on 23 JULY to determine destination and cargo. 1 boarding (no denials) was conducted.
A total of 1926 vessels have been hailed, 184 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**: 620 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 24 JULY: 2
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 24 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.