Operational Media Update for 29 July 2011

NATO and Libya

30 July. Allied Joint Force Command NAPLES, SHAPE, NATO HQ
(more information: 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 17,075 sorties, including 6,443 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 29 JULY: 124
Strike sorties conducted 29 JULY: 56

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

Key Hits 29 JULY:                                
In the vicinity of Brega: 2 Armed Military Vehicles, 1 Mortar, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher, 2 Military Logistic Vehicles, 7 Military Facilities.
In the vicinity of Tripoli: 3 Fire Control Radars, 1 Command and Control Node, 3 TV Satellite Dishes.
In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility.
In the vicinity of Zlitan: 3 Military Facilities, 1 Command and Control Node, 1 Armoured Fighting Vehicle, 5 Armed Vehicles, 1 Fire Control Radar, 1 Ammunition Storage Facility.
In the vicinity of Bir Al Ghanam: 1 Command and Control Facility.
In the vicinity of Bani Walid: 1 Military Facility.
In the vicinity of Yafran: 1 Anti Aircraft Gun.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 17 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
9 Vessels were hailed on 29 JULY to determine destination and cargo. 1 boarding (no denials) were conducted.
A total of 2004 vessels have been hailed, 197 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**: 678 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 29 JULY: 1
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 29 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.