Operational Media Update for 15 September 2011

16 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 22,817 sorties, including 8,560 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 15 SEPTEMBER: 116
Strike sorties conducted 15 SEPTEMBER: 40

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

Key Hits 15 SEPTEMBER:
In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Military Storage Facility, 2 Armed Vehicles, 1 Tank, 4 Multiple Rocket Launchers, 8 Air Missile Systems.
In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher.
In the vicinity of Sebha: Several Armoured Vehicles, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher, 1 Tank, 5 Armed Vehicles.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 13 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
18 Vessels were hailed on 15 SEPTEMBER to determine destination and cargo. 0 boardings (0 denied) were conducted.
A total of 2656 vessels have been hailed, 285 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**1230: (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 15 SEPTEMBER: 2
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 15 SEPTEMBER: 41

**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.

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