Operational Media Update for 18 August 2011

NATO and Libya

19 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 19,516 sorties, including 7, 397 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 18 AUGUST: 133

Strike sorties conducted 18 AUGUST:48

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

Key Hits 18 AUGUST:

In the vicinity of Az Zawiyah: 1 Command and Control Node, 2 Armed Vehicles, Transloader, 5 Tanks.

In the vicinity of Tripoli: 4 Military Facility, 1 Surface to Air Missile.

Arms Embargo Activities

A total of 16 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.

11 Vessels were hailed on 18 AUGUST to determine destination and cargo. 1 boarding's (no denials) were conducted.

A total of 2243 vessels have been hailed, 225 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**:806 (air, ground, maritime)

Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 18 AUGUST: 2

Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 18 AUGUST: 10

**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.