NATO and Libya

Operational Media Update for 1 October 2011

2 October. 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 24,574 sorties, including 9,164 strike sorties*, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 1 OCTOBER: 101
Strike sorties conducted 1 OCTOBER: 38

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

Key Hits 1 OCTOBER:

In the vicinity of Bani Walid: 1 multiple rocket launcher firing point, 1 ammunition storage facility.
In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 command and control node, 1 infantry and anti-aircraft artillery staging area, 2 armed vehicles, 4 armoured infantry vehicles, 1 tank.

Arms Embargo Activities

A total of 12 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
16 Vessels were hailed on 1 OCTOBER to determine destination and cargo. 0 boardings (0 denied) were conducted.
A total of 2,888 vessels have been hailed, 293 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**1,547: (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 1 OCTOBER: 1
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 1 OCTOBER: 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.

For more information: www.nato.int/libya

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