The Overthrow of Ghadafi, March -Oct. 2011

As U.S. continues its air strikes in Libya, take a look back at when the U.S and its allies in NATO claimed that getting rid of one more dictator would be good for the country.

“This ongoing campaign against ISIS-Libya demonstrates that U.S. Africa Command persistently targets terrorist networks that seek to harm innocent Libyans,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, director of intelligence, U.S. Africa Command.  “We will continue to pursue ISIS-Libya and other terrorists in the region, denying them safe haven to coordinate and plan operations in Libya,” AFRICOM stated after a barrage of airstrikes in Libya Sept 2019.

Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR Final Mission Stats
02 November 2011 All Photos Reporting, NATO, AFRICOM

Mission Statement on Libya, 11April, 2011

Justifying the intervention:
We deplore the continuing violence and atrocities in Libya perpetrated by the regime against its own people, which have resulted in a very serious humanitarian situation, particularly in cities under siege. We underline the need for the regime to restore water, gas, electricity and other services to areas that have been brutalized by regime forces and to permit full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all the people of Libya in need of assistance. Qadhafi and his regime have lost all legitimacy through their comprehensive and repeated refusal to abide by UNSC Resolutions 1970 and 1973. 

We welcome the outcome of the first meeting of the Contact Group which took place yesterday in Doha and strongly endorse its call for Qadhafi to leave power and its steadfast commitment to implement UNSCRs 1970 and 1973. We commend its role in providing wider political guidance for international efforts in Libya, recognizing that the political direction of the military mission is executed by the North Atlantic Council, with the indispensable involvement of its OUP partners. We reiterate our adherence to the strong commitments made at the London Conference by the international community to help end the violence and to support the Libyan people and their legitimate aspirations.

Operations, after action report 2011

NATO took control of all military operations for Libya under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 & 1973 on 31 March 2011. Operation Unified Protector consisted of three elements: an arms embargo, a no-fly-zone and actions to protect civilians from attack or the threat of attack. This mission ended on 31 October 2011 at 23.59 local Libyan
The Arms Embargo The No-Fly Zone Protection of Civilians Legal Basis:
Peak Military Figures
Air Missions:
Targeting: Arms Embargo:

OUP was mandated under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter.
UN Security Council Resolutions 1970, 1973 and 2009 directly relate to NATO’s mission.
Approximately 8,000 troops.

Over 260 air assets (fighter aircraft, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, air-to-air refuellers, unmanned aerial vehicles and attack helicopters).

21 naval assets (supply ships, frigates, destroyers, submarines, amphibious assault ships and aircraft carriers).

Over 26,500 sorties, including over 9,700 strike sorties*
*Strike sorties are intended to identify and engage appropriate targets, but do not necessarily deploy munitions each time.

Destroyed over 5,900 military targets including over 400 artillery or rocket launchers and over 600 tanks or armored vehicles.

Covered a maritime surveillance area of around 61,000 nautical square miles.

Over 3,100 vessels have been hailed.

Around 300 vessels have been boarded.

Eleven ships have been denied transit to or from Libyan ports because the vessel or its cargo presented a risk to the civilian population.

Over 2,500 air, ground and maritime movements into Libya have been de-conflicted by NATO.

2011

2020, Libya War Explained DW