Operational Media Update for 29 August 2011

NATO and Libya

30 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 20,751 sorties, including 7, 848 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 29 AUGUST: 120
Strike sorties conducted 29 AUGUST:42

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

Key Hits 29 AUGUST:
In the vicinity of Sirte: 3 Command and Control Nodes, 4 Radars, 1 Surface to Air Missile System, 22 Armed Vehicles, 2 Military Supply Vehicles, 1 Command Post, 1 Anti Aircraft Missile System, 1 Military Facility.
In the vicinity of Bani Walid: 2 Command and Control Node, 1 Military Ammo Storage Facility.
In the vicinity of Hun: 5 Anti Aircraft Artillery, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher, 1 Radar, 1 Anti Aircraft Gun.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 15 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
12 Vessels were hailed on 29 AUGUST to determine destination and cargo. 2 boarding's ( 0 denied) were conducted.
A total of 2426 vessels have been hailed, 246 boarding's and 11 denials have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.

International Humanitarian Assistance Movements as recorded by NATO
Total of Humanitarian Movements**:870 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 29 AUGUST: 0
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 29 AUGUST: 6

**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.