Operational Media Update for 19 August 2011

NATO and Libya

20 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 19,646 sorties, including 7, 423 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 19 AUGUST: 130
Strike sorties conducted 19 AUGUST:26

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

Key Hits 19 AUGUST:
In the vicinity of Az Zawiyah: 1 Artillery Piece.
In the vicinity of Tripoli: 9 Military Facility, 3 Radars, 1 Radar Guided Anti Aircraft Weapon System, 1 Tank.
In the vicinity of Zlitan: 1 Military Logistic Vehicle, 1 Tank.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 15 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
15 Vessels were hailed on 19 AUGUST to determine destination and cargo. 2 boarding's (no denials) were conducted.
A total of 2258 vessels have been hailed, 227 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**:813 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 18 AUGUST: 3
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 18 AUGUST: 4

**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.