Operational Media Update for 14 August 2011

NATO and Libya

15 August. Allied Joint Force Command NAPLES, SHAPE, NATO HQ

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 19,003 sorties, including 7, 200 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 14 AUGUST: 119
Strike sorties conducted 14 AUGUST: 26

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

Key Hits 14 AUGUST:

In the Vicinity of Al Zawiyan: 1 Anti Aircraft Gun.
In the vicinity of :Garyan: 1 Military Facility.
In the vicinity of Tripoli: 11 Surface to Surface Missile Trans/Loader Vehicles, 1 Surface to Surface Missile Trailer, 3 Radars.
In the vicinity of Zlitan: 4 Military Facilities, 1 Command and Control Node, 1 Artillery Piece, 1 Armed Vehicle.

Arms Embargo Activities

A total of 17 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
15 Vessels were hailed on 14 AUGUST to determine destination and cargo. 2 boarding's (no denials) were conducted.
A total of 2188 vessels have been hailed, 219 boarding's 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**: 775 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 14 AUGUST: 2
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 14 AUGUST: 0

**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.