Operational Media Update for 28 July 2011

NATO and Libya

29 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 16,951 sorties, including 6,387 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 27 JULY: 129

Strike sorties conducted 27 JULY: 48

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

Key Hits 28 JULY:

In the vicinity of Brega: 2 Armed Military Vehicles,.

In the vicinity of Tripoli: 2 Fire Control Radars, 4 Military Vehicles, 1 Military Facility, 1 Command and Control Note.

In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility.

In the vicinity of Zlitan: 4 Military Facilities, 1 Command and Control Note, 1 Ammunition Storage Facility

Arms Embargo Activities

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

22 Vessels were hailed on 28 JULY to determine destination and cargo. 2 boardings (no denials) were conducted.

A total of 1995 vessels have been hailed, 194 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**: 667 (air, ground, maritime)

Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 28 JULY: 2

Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 28 JULY: 10

**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.