Operational Media Update for 2 August 2011

NATO and Libya

03 August. 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 17,566 sorties, including 6,648 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 02 AUGUST: 123
Strike sorties conducted 02 AUGUST: 58

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

Key Hits 01 AUGUST:
In the vicinity of Bir Al Ghanam: 1 Military Facility, 1 Command and Control Node.
In the vicinity of Brega: 2 Militairy Facilities, 1 Tank.
In the vicinity of Bani Walid: 1 Military Facility, 1 Command and Control Node.
In the vicinity of Misratah: 1 Armed Vehicle.
In the vicinity of Ras Lanuf: 1 Radar.
In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Command and Control Node, 2 Surface to Air Missile Systems, 1 Anti Aircraft System.
In the vicinity of Zintan: 1 Military Logistic Vehicle, 1 Multiple Rocket Launch System.
In the vicinity of Zlitan: 1 Command and Control Node, 2 Military Facility, : 1 Ammunition Storage Facility, 1 Tank, 2 Armed Vehicles.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 17 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
18 Vessels were hailed on 02 AUGUST to determine destination and cargo. 3 boardings (no denials) were conducted.
A total of 2053 vessels have been hailed, 204 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**: 712 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 02 AUGUST: 3
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 02 AUGUST: 2

**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.