Operational Media Update for 8 August 2011

NATO and Libya

9 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 18,279 sorties, including 6,946 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 8 AUGUST: 121
Strike sorties conducted 8 AUGUST: 54

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

Key Hits 8 AUGUST:
In the vicinity of Brega: 3 Military Vehicles, 2 Multiple Rocket Launchers.
In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Weapons Storage, 1 Ship, 1 Surface to Air Missile System.
In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility.
In the vicinity of Zlitan: 1 Military Facility, 1 Communications System.
In the vicinity of Zintan: 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher; 2 Military Vehicles.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 17 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
3 Vessels were hailed on 8 AUGUST to determine destination and cargo. 2 boardings (no denials) were conducted.
A total of 2109 vessels have been hailed, 214 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**: 750 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 8 AUGUST: 0
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 8 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.