Operational Media Update for 26 July 2011

NATO and Libya

27 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 16689 sorties, including 6,285 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 26 JULY: 134

Strike sorties conducted 26 JULY: 46

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

Key Hits 26 JULY:

In the vicinity of Brega: 5 Military Vehicles, 1 Tank, 1 Military Facility.

In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Military Facility, 4 Anti-Aircraft Systems.

In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility.

In the vicinity of Zlitan: 1 Military Ammo Supply Node, 2 Military Facility, 4 Military Supply Vehicles.

In the vicinity of Misratah: 4 Military Supply Vehicles .

Arms Embargo Activities

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

12 Vessels were hailed on 26 JULY to determine destination and cargo. 3 boardings (no denials) were conducted.

A total of 1956 vessels have been hailed, 189 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**: 642 (air, ground, maritime)

Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 26 JULY: 2

Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 26 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.