| NATO and Libya - Operation Unified Protector |
 source: www.nato.intOn March 27, NATO Allies decided to take on the whole military operation in Libya under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. The purpose of Operation Unified Protector is to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas under threat of attack. NATO is implementing all military aspects of the UN Resolution. All NATO Allies are committed to fulfilling their obligations under the UN resolution. Since the resolution was passed on March 17, Allies have moved swiftly and decisively to enforce the arms embargo and No-Fly Zone called for in the resolution, and to take further measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas from attack. NATO is taking action as part of the broad international effort and looks forward to working with its partners in the region. Background and timeline Following the popular uprising which began in Benghazi on 17 February 2011, the United Nations (UN) Security Council adopted Resolution 1970. This institutes an arms embargo, freezes the personal assets of Libya’s leaders and imposes a travel ban on senior figures. On 8 March, with international concern over the Libyan crisis growing, NATO stepped up its surveillance operations in the Central Mediterranean, deploying AWACS aircraft to provide round-the-clock observation. These “eyes in the sky” give NATO detailed information of movements in Libyan airspace. On 10 March, NATO Defence Ministers supported SACEUR’s decision to have alliance ships move to the same area to boost the monitoring effort. On 17 March, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1973, authorising member states and regional organisations to, inter alia, take “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in Libya. On 22 March, NATO responded to the UN call by launching an operation to enforce the arms embargo against Libya. On 23 March, NATO’s arms embargo operation started. NATO ships and aircraft are operating in the Central Mediterranean to make sure that the flow of weapons to Libya by sea is cut off. They have the right to stop and search any vessel they suspect of carrying arms or mercenaries. The NATO ships will not enter Libyan territorial waters. NATO has no intention of deploying land forces anywhere in Libyan territory. On 24 March, NATO decided to enforce the UN-mandated No-Fly Zone over Libya. The UN resolution called for a ban on all flights, except those for humanitarian and aid purposes, in Libyan airspace, to make sure that civilians and civilian populated areas cannot be subjected to air attack. NATO Secretary General's statement on situation in Libya. Press briefing on Libya by the NATO Spokesperson and by the Military Spokesperson of Operation Unified Protector on Tuesday 23 August, Oana Lungescu, the NATO spokesperson, briefed the press on events concerning Libya. She was joined by Colonel Roland Lavoie, Operation Unified Protector(OUP) military spokesperson, who briefed by videoconference from Naples on NATO’s operation in Libya in support of UNSCR 1973. |
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