Operational Media Update for 5 August 2011

NATO and Libya

6 August. 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 17,924 sorties, including 6,788 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 05 AUGUST: 116
Strike sorties conducted 05 AUGUST: 43

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

Key Hits 05 AUGUST:
In the Vicinity of Al Jawsh: 1 Armed Vehicle.
In the vicinity of Brega: 2 Military Facility, 2 Tanks, 19 Armed Vehicles, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher, 2 Military Supply Vehicles, 5 Military Trucks, 6 Military Buildings, 1 Armoured Fighting Vehicle.
In the vicinity of Gharyan: 1 Military Firing Position, 1 Command and Controle Node.
In the vicinity of Tawurgha: 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher System Staging Area, 1 Military Checkpoint.
In the vicinity of Tiji : 7 Armed Vehicles.
In the vicinity of Misratah: 2 Artillery Pieces.
In the vicinity of Zlitan: 1 Military Radar Site, 1 Military Storage Facility.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 17 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
8 Vessels were hailed on 05 AUGUST to determine destination and cargo. 3 boardings (no denials) were conducted.
A total of 2088 vessels have been hailed, 211 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**: 734 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 05 AUGUST: 0
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 05 AUGUST: 3

**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.