NATO continues to engage key military targets in Tripoli and pro-Qaddafi forces in Libya 2007113

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Defense News - Libya
 
 
Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 10:28 AM
 
NATO continues to engage key military targets in Tripoli and pro-Qaddafi forces across the country.
Early the morning, July 18, 2011, NATO forces struck an antenna radar system, which was being solely used for military purposes at Tripoli’s main airport. The antenna, which was previously used for civilian air traffic control, was being used by pro-Qadhafi forces to track NATO air assets in the airspace over Tripoli and to coordinate their own air defence early warning system.
     

French Mirage 2000D participating in NATO's Operation Unified Protector (Image Source NATO)
     

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 15,669 sorties, including 5,902 strike sorties*, have been conducted.
Sorties conducted 18JULY: 129
Strike sorties conducted 18 JULY: 44

Key Hits 18 JULY, 2011:

- In the vicinity of Brega: 8 Armed Vehicles, 2 Armoured Fighting Vehicles.
- In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Artillery Piece, 1 Radar, 1 Surface-to-Air-Missile Launcher,
1 Command and Control Vehicle, 1 Command and Control Node.
- In the vicinity of Misrata: 6 Artillery Pieces.
- In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Military Storage Facility.

Arms Embargo Activities
A total of 17 ships under NATO command are actively patrolling the Central Mediterranean.
11 Vessels were hailed on 18 JULY to determine destination and cargo. 1 boarding (no denials) was conducted.
A total of 1813 vessels have been hailed, 176 boardings and 9 denials have been conducted since the beginning of arms embargo operations.

International Humanitarian Assistance Movements as recorded by NATO
Total of Humanitarian Movements**: 562 (air, ground, maritime)
Ships delivering Humanitarian Assistance 18 JULY: 1
Aircrafts delivering Humanitarian Assistance 18 JULY: 4