Operational Media Update for 6 August 2011

NATO and Libya

7 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 18,039 sorties, including 6,833 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 6 AUGUST: 115
Strike sorties conducted 6 AUGUST: 45

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

Key Hits 6 AUGUST:
In the vicinity of Brega: 2 Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems
In the vicinity east of Tripoli: 1 Surface to Air System, 2 Anti Aircraft Guns, 6 Military Supply Vehicles, 1 Military Vehicle.
In the vicinity of Bir Al Ghanam: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility, 1 Command and Control Node, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher System, 1 Military vehicle.
In the vicinity of Zlitan: 1 Command and Control Node, 1 Military Facility, 1 Tank.
In the vicinity of Tiji: 1 Military Facility, 1 Command and Control Node, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher Storage.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 17 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
8 Vessels were hailed on 6 AUGUST to determine destination and cargo. 1 boardings (no denials) was conducted.
A total of 2096 vessels have been hailed, 212 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**: 743 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 6 AUGUST: 0
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 6 AUGUST: 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.