Operational Media Update for 7 September 2011

NATO and Libya

8 September. 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 21,893 sorties, including 8,220 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 07 SEPTEMBER: 113
Strike sorties conducted 07 SEPTEMBER: 40

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

Key Hits 07 SEPTEMBER:
In the vicinity of Sirte: 5 Armoured Fighting Vehicles, 2 Armed Vehicles.
In the vicinity of Waddan: 18 Surface to Air Missile Systems.
Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 14 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
7 Vessels were hailed on 07 SEPTEMBER to determine destination and cargo. 0 boardings ( 0 denied) were conducted.
A total of 2521 vessels have been hailed, 262 boardings 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*984*: (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 07 SEPTEMBER: 1
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 07 SEPTEMBER: 22

**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.