Operational Media Update for 21 August 2011

NATO and Libya

22 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 19,877 sorties, including 7, 505 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 21 AUGUST: 126
Strike sorties conducted 21 AUGUST:46

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

Key Hits 21 AUGUST:
In the vicinity of Tripoli: 3 Command and Control Facilities, 1 Military Facility, 2 Radar, 9 Surface to Air Missile Launchers, 1 Tank, 2 Armed Vehicles.
In the vicinity of Bin Ghashir: 1 Radar.
In the vicinity of Al Aziziyah: 5 Surface to Air Missile Launchers.
.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 15 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
14 Vessels were hailed on 21 AUGUST to determine destination and cargo. 2 boarding's ( 0 denials) were conducted.
A total of 2290 vessels have been hailed, 230 boarding's and 10 denials have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.

International Humanitarian Assistance Movements as recorded by NATO
Total of Humanitarian Movements**:823 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 21 AUGUST: 0
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 21- AUGUST: 5

**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.