Operation Unified Protector (SIADD)

Operation Unified Protector is an ongoing NATO operation enforcing United Nations Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973 concerning the 2011 Libyan civil war and adopted on February 17 and March 17 respectively. These resolutions imposed sanctions on key members of the Gadaffi government and authorized NATO to implement an arms embargo, a no-fly zone and to use all means necessary, short of foreign occupation, to protect Libyan civilians and civilian populated areas. The operation started on March 23 and gradually expanded during the following weeks, by integrating more and more elements of the multinational military intervention, which had started on March 19 in response to the same UN resolutions. As of March 31, 2011 it encompasses all international operations in Libya.

The operation started on March 23 with a naval arms embargo, while command of the no-fly zone and the air strikes against Libyan Armed Forces remained under command of the international coalition, led by France, the United Kingdom and the United States, due to lack of consensus between NATO members. On March 24 NATO decided to take control of the no-fly zone enforcement, by integrating the air assets of the international coalition under NATO command, although the command of air strikes on ground targets remained under national authority. A few days later, on March 27, NATO decided to implement all military aspects of the UN resolution and formal transfer of command occurred at 06:00 GMT on March 31, 2011, formally ending the national operations such as the U.S. coordinated Operation Odyssey Dawn.

The arms embargo is carried out using mainly ships from NATOs Standing Maritime Group 1 and Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1 already patrolling the Mediterranean Sea at the time of the resolution, enforced with additional ships, submarines and maritime surveillance aircraft from NATO members. They would "monitor, report and, if needed, interdict vessels suspected of carrying illegal arms or mercenaries". The no-fly zone is enforced by aircraft transferred to Unified Protector from the international coalition, with additional aircraft from NATO and other allied nations. The air strikes, although under central NATO command, are only conducted by aircraft of the nations agreeing to enforce this part of the UN resolution.

Command structure
Political direction is provided by the North Atlantic Council to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. The chain of command is from Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral James G. Stavridis (U.S. Navy), to the Deputy Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Lt. General Charles Bouchard (Canadian Air Force) acting as operational commander. From the operational level, command is further delegated to the Commander of Allied Maritime Command Naples, Vice Admiral Rinaldo Veri (Italian Navy) for the naval operations and Commander of Allied Air Command Izmir, Lieutenant General Ralph J. Jodice II (U.S. Air Force) for air operations.

Allied Maritime Command

 * Flag of Belgium.svg Belgian Naval Component
 * BNS Narcis, a Tripartite-class minehunter (Operational from March 23, 2011 until July 24, 2011)
 * BNS Lobelia, a Tripartite-class minehunter (Operational from August 12, 2011)
 * Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgarian Navy
 * BGS Drazki, a Wielingen-class frigate
 * Flag of Canada.svgRoyal Canadian Navy
 * HMCS Charlottetown, a Halifax-class frigate (transferred from Operation MOBILE)
 * 1 × CH-124 Sea King anti-submarine helicopter
 * Flag of France.svg French Navy (transferred from Opération Harmattan)
 * Landing helicopter dock Tonnerre (L9014)
 * 14 × Aérospatiale Gazelle
 * 4 × Eurocopter Tiger
 * 2 × Eurocopter Puma
 * 2 × Atlantique 2 signals intelligence aircraft based at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, Italy
 * Task Force 473
 * Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91)
 * 10 × Rafale M fighters
 * 6 × Super-Etendard strike aircraft
 * 2 × E-2C airborne early warning aircraft
 * 2 × Dauphin multipurpose helicopters
 * 2 × Alouette III utility helicopters
 * French Air Force detachment of a Puma and 2 × Caracal transport helicopters
 * Anti-air frigate Jean Bart (D615) (until April 2, 2011)
 * Frigate Dupleix (D641)
 * Frigate Aconit (F713)
 * Frigate Chevalier Paul (D621)
 * Frigate Georges Leygues (D640)
 * Frigate Courbet (F712) (Returned to France)
 * Replenishment tanker Meuse (A607)
 * Nuclear attack submarine Améthyste (S605)
 * Flag of Greece.svg Hellenic Navy
 * HS Limnos, an Elli-class frigate
 * Flag of Italy.svg Italian Navy
 * NMM Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier with
 * 8 × AV-8B Harrier II V/STOL ground-attack aircraft
 * 4 × AW101 Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopters
 * Boarding teams from the San Marco Regiment
 * NMM Andrea Doria, an Horizon Class Destroyer
 * NMM Libeccio, a Maestrale-class frigate
 * NMM Etna, an Etna class auxiliary ship
 * NMM Comandante Bettica, a Comandanti-class offshore patrol vessel
 * Flag of the Netherlands.svg Royal Netherlands Navy
 * HNLMS Haarlem, an Alkmaar-class minehunter
 * Flag of Romania.svg Romanian Navy
 * Regele Ferdinand, a Type 22 frigate
 * Flag of Spain.svg Spanish Navy
 * SPS Méndez Núñez, a Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate
 * SPS Tramontana, an Agosta-class submarine
 * Flag of Turkey.svg Turkish Navy
 * TCG Giresun, a G class frigate
 * TCG Gemlik, a G class frigate
 * TCG Yıldırım, a Yavuz-class frigate
 * TCG Yıldıray, a Type 209 submarine
 * TCG Akar, a fleet support ship
 * Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
 * HMS Brocklesby (Hunt Class MCMV)
 * HMS Ocean (Landing Platform Helicopter) (From 27 May 2011)
 * HMS ''Albion (Albion class landing platform dock)
 * HMS ''Liverpool (Type 42 destroyer) (Replaced HMS Cornwall from 9 April)
 * HMS ''Sutherland (Type 23 frigate)
 * RFA Fort Rosalie (Stores ship)
 * RFA Wave Knight (Tanker)
 * Flag of the United States.svg United States Navy (transferred from Operation Odyssey Dawn)
 * USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), the command ship of the United States Sixth Fleet
 * USS Enterprise, an Enterprise-class aircraft carrier
 * 20 × F/A-18F Super Hornets of VFA-11 (Strike Fighter Squadron 11)
 * 20 × F/A-18F Super Hornets of VFA-136 (Strike Fighter Squadron 136)
 * The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of:
 * USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship
 * USS Ponce (LPD-15), an Austin-class amphibious transport dock
 * Embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit with 400 U.S. Marines from 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
 * USS Barry (DDG-52), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
 * USS Mahan (DDG-72), another Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
 * USS Stout (DDG-55), another Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
 * USS Providence (SSN-719), a Los Angeles''-class nuclear attack submarine
 * USS Scranton (SSN-756), a second Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine
 * USS Florida (SSGN-728), an Ohio-class cruise missile submarine
 * USNS Kanawha, a Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler
 * USNS Lewis and Clark, a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship
 * USNS Robert E. Peary, a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship
 * The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of USS Bataan, USS Mesa Verde, and USS ''Whidbey Island, left their home port of Naval Station Norfolk on 23 March, bound for Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to pick up the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. They planned to sail east around 30 March to relieve the 26th MEU in the Mediterranean Sea two months before the projected deployment date.
 * Five EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft operating out of NAS Sigonella and Aviano Air Base
 * One EP-3E ELINT aircraft
 * Two P-3C Update 3 maritime surveillance aircraft
 * Two P-3C AIP maritime surveillance aircraft
 * Navy SEALs of the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU)

Allied Air Command

 * Flag of NATO.svg NATO
 * E-3 airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft


 * Flag of Belgium.svg Belgian Air Component
 * 6 x F-16AM 15MLU fighter aircraft operating from Araxos Air Base, Greece


 * Flag of Canada.svg Royal Canadian Air Force
 * 6 × CF-188 Hornet multirole fighter jets
 * 2 × CC-177 Globemaster strategic transport aircraft
 * 2 × CC-130J Hercules tactical transport aircraft
 * 2 × CC-150 Polaris air-to-air refueling tankers
 * 2 × CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft
 * Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
 * Joint Task Force 2


 * Flag of Denmark.svg Royal Danish Air Force
 * 6 x F-16AM 15MLU fighter jets operating from Sigonella Air Base, Italy
 * 1 x C-130J-30 tactical transport aircraft


 * Flag of France.svg French Air Force (transferred from Opération Harmattan)
 * 8 × Rafale fighters
 * 8 × Mirage 2000-5 fighters
 * 6 × Mirage 2000D fighter-bombers
 * 2 × Mirage F1CR reconnaissance aircraft
 * 6 × C135 aerial refueling aircraft
 * 1 x E-3F AWACS aircraft
 * 1 x C-160G SIGINT electronic surveillance aircraft
 * Commando Parachutiste de l'Air companies 20 and 30 forward deployed to Solenzara Air Base, Corsica


 * Flag of Greece.svg Hellenic Air Force
 * 4 x F-16 fighter jets
 * 1 x Embraer R-99 early warning and control aircraft


 * Flag of Italy.svg Italian Air Force
 * 4 x Tornado ECR SEAD aircraft operating from Trapani Air Base
 * 4 x Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets operating from Trapani Air Base
 * 2 x Panavia Tornado IDS started air attacks against military targets in Libya with Storm Shadow Missiles and smart bombs JDAM and Paveway in 28 April, fighter jets operating from Trapani Air Base
 * 4 x AMX Ghibli fighter jets operating since July 25


 * Flag of the Netherlands.svg Royal Netherlands Air Force
 * 6 x F-16AM 15MLU fighter jets


 * Flag of Norway.svg Royal Norwegian Air Force
 * 6 x F-16AM 15MLU fighter jets operating from Souda Air Base, Crete
 * 2 x C-130J-30 tactical transport aircraft supporting the Norwegian forces.


 * Flag of Qatar.svg Emiri Air Force
 * 6 x Mirage 2000-5EDA fighters jets operating from Souda Air Base, Crete
 * 2 x C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft


 * Flag of Spain.svg Spanish Air Force
 * 4 x EF-18AM Hornet fighters jets operating from Decimomannu Air Base, Italy
 * 1 x Boeing 707-331B(KC) tanker aircraft
 * 1 x CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft


 * Flag of Sweden.svg Royal Swedish Air Force
 * 5 (reduced from 8) JAS 39C Gripen fighter jets operating from Sigonella Air Base, Italy
 * 1 x Lockheed Tp-84T C-130 Hercules configured as aerial tanker
 * 1 x Saab 340 AEW&C (pledged, but not yet deployed)


 * Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg United Arab Emirates Air Force
 * 6 x F-16E/F Block 60 Falcon fighter jets operating from Decimomannu Air Base, Italy
 * 6 x Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter jets operating from Decimomannu Air Base, Italy


 * Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Air Force
 * 16 x Panavia Tornado GR4A
 * 8 x (originally 10) Eurofighter Typhoons
 * 2 x VC-10 tanker aircraft
 * 4 x Agusta Westland Apache attached from the Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)
 * 3 x E3D Sentry surveillance aircraft


 * Flag of Jordan.svg Royal Jordanian Air Force
 * 6 x F-16 MLU fighter jets operating from Aviano Air Base, Italy


 * Flag of the United States.svg United States Air Force (transferred from Operation Odyssey Dawn)
 * 3 × B-2 Spirit stealth bombers operating from Whiteman AFB
 * 10 × F-15E Strike Eagle strike fighters operating out of RAF Lakenheath
 * 20 × F-16C Fighting Falcon multirole fighters operating out of Aviano
 * 6 × A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft of the 81st Fighter Squadron operating out of Aviano
 * 2 x HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopters from RAF Lakenheath operating from USS Ponce (LPD-15).
 * EC-130H electronic warfare (communications jamming) aircraft
 * EC-130J psychological operations aircraft
 * Lockheed AC-130 Aerial Gunship
 * Global Hawk unmanned aerial surveillance vehicle
 * Lockheed U-2S Reconnaissance aircraft
 * MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)

March

 * March 23, 2011:
 * Coalition aircraft flew at least two bombing missions against loyalist forces near the besieged city of Misrata. Late in the day, it was announced that the remaining pro-Gaddafi forces and their equipment in the city, with the exception of individual snipers, had been forced to retreat or had been destroyed.
 * U.S. F-16C fighter aircraft conducted 3 separate bombing runs on multiple targets south of Adjabiya, destroyed three tanks, two APCs, five trucks.
 * U.S. F/A-18s of the VFA-11 attacked pro-Gadaffi forces as they were entering Misrata, destroying five tanks and two APCs and some other vehicles.
 * In the early morning hours, 4 Canadian Forces CF-18 Hornets conducted 2 separate bombing runs on multiple targets at a Pro-Gaddafi munitions depot near Misrata.


 * March 24, 2011:
 * Multiple Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from USS Barry and USS Florida at targets during the day.
 * French aircraft attacked Al Jufra Air Base 250 kilometres (160 mi) inland and destroyed a Libyan Soko G-2 Galeb light attack jet as it landed at Misrata Airport.
 * Eyewitnesses reported that coalition aircraft had bombed Sabha Air Base, 620 kilometres (390 mi) south of Tripoli.
 * F-16s from the Royal Norwegian Air Force were assigned to the US African command and Operation Odyssey Dawn. A number of Norwegian F-16s took off from Souda Bay Air Base on Crete, Greece, performing several missions over Libya during the day, evening and through the night.


 * March 25, 2011:
 * Three laser-guided bombs were launched from two F-16s of the Royal Norwegian Air Force against Libyan tanks.
 * French Air Force destroyed an artillery battery overnight outside Ajdabiya.
 * RAF Tornado fighter/bombers together with the French Air Force struck and destroyed seven pro-Gaddafi tanks dug in on the outskirts of Ajdabiya with precision guided munitions.
 * U.S. F/A-18s of the VFA-11 attacked and destroyed four pro-Gaddafi tanks, five APCs and four trucks dug in on the outskirts of Misrata with precision guided munitions. On the way home, they were attacked by three Libyan MiG-23BNs in the Gulf of Sirt. Two MiG-23s were shot down while the other was damaged.

March 26, 2011:
 * F-16s from the Royal Norwegian Air Force bombed an airfield in Libya during the night.
 * Two CF18CF-18s from the Canadian Forces detachment conducted one sortie each, on a mission to release precision-guided munitions against electronic warfare sites near Misrata.
 * B-2 Spirit bombers targeted 30 hardened aircraft shelters at an Libyan airfield in Tripoli.
 * U.S. F-15s attacked and destroyed three self-propelled howitzers and seven vehicles near Brega.
 * French Air Force confirms the destruction by its aircraft of at least 5 Libyan Soko G-2 Galeb aircraft and 2 Mi-35 military helicopters.
 * RAF Tornados destroyed three armoured vehicles in Misrata and a further two vehicles in Ajdabiya with Brimstone missiles.
 * Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) F-16s knocked out Libyan self-propelled rocket launchers and tanks.


 * March 27, 2011:
 * RDAF F-16s knocked out Libyan self-propelled artillery south of Tripoli.[217]
 * 4 Canadian CF18s struck and destroyed Regime ammunition bunkers 92 km south of Misrata.
 * French Air Force and Navy Rafales attacked a command centre south of Tripoli. French and Qatari Mirage 2000-5s conducted joint patrols and air interdiction missions from Souda Air Base. Rafales and Super The number of French Mirage 2000-5s based as Souda was increased to four.


 * March 28, 2011:
 * RAF Tornados destroyed two Libyan tanks and two armoured vehicles near Misratah earlier in the day.
 * The Ministry of Defence said British jets had launched missiles against ammunition bunkers in the morning in the Sabha area of southern Libya. Air operations were planned to focus on the region around Zintan and Misrata.
 * A US Navy P-3 Orion Maritime Patrol aircraft fired at a 12-meter Libyan Coast Guard vessel Vittoria after multiple explosions were seen near the Libyan port of Misrata Monday evening forcing it to be beached. A USAF A-10 Thunderbolt said it also fired on two smaller Libyan vessels traveling with the larger ship, destroying one and forcing the other to be abandoned.
 * Air force Rafales and Mirage 2000Ds and a joint patrol of Navy Rafales and Super Etendards bombed an ammunition dump at Gharyan, 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of Tripoli.
 * Mirage F1CRs conducted reconnaissance missions for the first time in the operation.


 * March 29, 2011:
 * Two patrols of Air Force Rafales and Mirage 2000Ds and a patrol of Navy Rafales and Super Etendards attacked anti-aircraft missile sites 100 kilometres (62 mi) south west of Tripoli.
 * Two joint patrols of French and Qatari Mirage 2000-5s conducted air interdiction sorties.
 * Mirage 2000Ds and Super Etendards bombed a military depot 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Tripoli.
 * Two Canadian Forces CF-18s flew on a mission to help the rebels by attacking targets in Misrata.


 * March 30, 2011:
 * A joint strike force of French Air Force Rafales and Mirage 2000Ds and Navy Rafales and Super Etendards attacked anti-aircraft missile sites 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Sirte.
 * A patrol of two French and four Qatari Mirage 2000-5s conducted air interdiction sorties.
 * RAF Tornados flying from Gioia del Colle engaged near Misrata three Libyan tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles and a surface-to-air missile site with Brimstone missiles and Paveway IV bombs.
 * USAF F-16s flew three sorties against Gaddafi forces on the road between Al Sidr and Las Ranuf, destroying three Libyan tanks, five armoured personnel carriers and two armoured fighting vehicles. As the Gaddafi forces continued their advance, USAF A-10 Thunderbolt IIs then flew five sorties between Al Sidr and Las Ranuf, destroying six Libyan tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles and five trucks.


 * March 31, 2011:
 * After having captured Las Ranuf while taking heavy casualties from U.S. airstrikes and Anti-Gaddafi forces, the Gaddafi forces were advancing on Brega.
 * U.S. F/A-18s of the VFA-11 attacked pro-Gadaffi forces west of Brega as they were attacking Anti-Gaddafi forces in the outskirts of the town. Five tanks and six armoured vehicles were destroyed.
 * Later in the day, two USAF A-10 Thunderbolt IIs then flew three sorties outside of Brega destroying six tanks and five trucks before taking fire from two ZSU-23-4 Shilkas.
 * RAF Tornados flying from Gioia del Colle again engaged Libyan tanks dug in around Misrata, destroying five tanks and two armoured vehicles.

'''April

 * *April 14, 2011:'
 * 166 sorties were conducted, of whom 60 were strike sorties.
 * U.S. F/A-18s of the VFA-11 attacked and destroyed eight ships of the Libyan Navy in the port of Tripoli (five ships), Al Khums (two ships) and Sirte (one ship). Among these were the 213 Al Ghardabia Koni-class frigate and the Nanuchka-class corvette 418 Ain Zaara.
 * In Tripoli, a Command & Control facility was struck as well, while four Command & Control nodes were destroyed in Sirte and a rocket launcher in Al Khums.