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Operation Unified Protector
Part of the 2011 military intervention in Libya
NATO Unified Proector logo
NATO Unified Protector logo
Date 23 March – 31 October 2011
(7 months, 1 week and 1 day days)
Location
Libyan airspace and Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya
Result

NATO victory

  • No-fly zone established over Libya
  • Sanctions imposed on Gaddafi regime
  • Overthrow of Gaddafi regime
Belligerents

 NATO-led coalition

List
  Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Commanders and leaders
United States James G. Stavridis
(SACEUR)
Canada Charles Bouchard
(Operational Commander)
United States Ralph Jodice
(Air Commander)
Italy Rinaldo Veri
(Maritime Commander)		 Libya Muammar Gaddafi  †
(De facto Commander-in-Chief)
Libya Abu-Bakr Yunis Jabr  †
(Minister of Defense)
Libya Khamis al-Gaddafi  †
(Khamis Brigade Commander)
Libya Ali Sharif al-Rifi
(Air Force Commander)
Strength
See deployed forces

Operation Unified Protector was a military operation led by NATO in 2011. Its main goal was to carry out decisions made by the United Nations Security Council. These decisions, called resolutions, aimed to protect people in Libya during a civil war.

The operation started on March 23, 2011. It grew to include all international military actions in Libya by March 31, 2011. NATO's help was very important for the rebels to win against the forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi. The operation officially ended on October 31, 2011. This was after the rebel leaders declared Libya free.

At first, the operation focused on stopping weapons from entering Libya by sea. This is called an arms embargo. Later, NATO also took control of enforcing a no-fly zone. This meant no unauthorized aircraft could fly over Libya. NATO also carried out air strikes against Gaddafi's military targets.

Why did NATO get involved?

The conflict in Libya

Main article: Libyan Civil War (2011)

Operation Unified Protector happened because of a conflict inside Libya. People wanted to remove their long-time leader, Muammar Gaddafi. This conflict was part of a bigger movement called the Arab Spring. Gaddafi's security forces tried to stop the protests, but they grew into a widespread uprising.

The situation became an armed conflict. Rebels formed a temporary government called the National Transitional Council. They controlled parts of eastern Libya. Gaddafi's forces then began attacking rebel strongholds.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution. It froze Gaddafi's money and limited his travel. It also asked the International Criminal Court to investigate the government's actions.

International help begins

Main article: 2011 military intervention in Libya

As Gaddafi's forces attacked the city of Benghazi, the UN passed another resolution. This one allowed countries to create an arms embargo and a no-fly zone. It also allowed them to use "all necessary means" to protect Libyan civilians. This meant military action, but not taking over the country.

In response, several countries formed an international group. They sent naval and air forces to the area. On March 19, France launched air strikes against Gaddafi's forces. Other countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, also launched missiles and air strikes. They also set up a naval blockade.

The United States first led these efforts. But they wanted to reduce their involvement. NATO then gradually took over the command of all military operations. This happened on March 31, 2011.

How NATO was organized

NATO's political leaders gave directions to the military commanders. Admiral James G. Stavridis from the US Navy was the top commander in Europe. He then passed command to Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard from Canada. General Bouchard was the main operational commander.

Below him, Vice Admiral Rinaldo Veri from Italy led naval operations. Lieutenant General Ralph J. Jodice II from the US Air Force led air operations. This structure helped coordinate all the different forces.

Countries and forces involved

Many countries contributed ships, aircraft, and personnel to Operation Unified Protector. These forces worked together under NATO command.

Naval forces

Naval forces were used to enforce the arms embargo. They monitored ships and stopped those suspected of carrying illegal weapons or fighters. Many ships were already in the Mediterranean Sea and were joined by others.

  • Belgium: Minehunters (ships that find and remove mines)
  • Bulgaria: A frigate (a type of warship)
  • Canada: Frigates and anti-submarine helicopters
  • France: A landing helicopter dock, intelligence aircraft, an aircraft carrier with fighter jets, and several frigates and a submarine.
  • Greece: A frigate
  • Italy: An aircraft carrier with fighter jets and helicopters, a destroyer, frigates, and patrol vessels.
  • Netherlands: Minehunters
  • Romania: A frigate
  • Spain: A frigate and a submarine
  • Turkey: Frigates, a submarine, and a support ship
  • United Kingdom: Minehunters, amphibious ships, destroyers, frigates, support ships, and submarines.
  • United States: Command ships, amphibious assault ships, destroyers, frigates, support ships, and submarines. The United States Marine Corps also had units on some of these ships.

Air forces

Air forces enforced the no-fly zone and conducted air strikes. They operated from various air bases, mostly in Italy and Greece.

  • Turkey: F-16 fighter jets and aerial refueling aircraft.
  • Belgium: F-16 fighter jets.
  • Canada: CF-18 Hornet fighter jets, transport aircraft, and air-to-air refueling tankers.
  • Denmark: F-16 fighter jets and transport aircraft.
  • France: Rafale, Mirage, and reconnaissance fighter jets, aerial refueling aircraft, and AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft.
  • Greece: F-16 fighter jets and early warning aircraft.
  • Italy: Tornado, F-16, Eurofighter Typhoon, and AMX fighter jets.
  • NATO: E-3 AWACS aircraft for surveillance and control.
  • Netherlands: F-16 multi-role fighter jets and aerial refueling aircraft.
  • Norway: F-16 fighter jets and transport aircraft.
  • Qatar: Mirage 2000 fighter jets and strategic transport aircraft.
  • Spain: EF-18AM Hornet fighter jets, tanker aircraft, and maritime patrol aircraft.
  • Sweden: JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets, aerial tanker, and SIGINT (signals intelligence) aircraft.
  • United Arab Emirates: F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets.
  • United Kingdom: Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon jets, tanker aircraft, Lynx and Apache helicopters, and surveillance aircraft.
  • Jordan: F-16 fighter jets.
  • United States Air Force: Various fighter, reconnaissance, and refueling aircraft, including F-15s, F-16s, and MQ-1 Predator drones.
  • United States Navy: P-3C maritime patrol aircraft.
  • United States Marine Corps: Electronic warfare aircraft.

Costs and contributions

Many countries contributed to the operation, both with military forces and financially.

  • USA: Flew over 5,300 missions and spent about $896 million.
  • UK: Spent around €136 million on operations.
  • Denmark: Flew 600 missions, dropping 923 bombs. They spent about €77.5 million.
  • Norway: Dropped 588 bombs and flew 615 missions before ending its participation.
  • Italy: Dropped 710 bombs during the conflict.

See also

  • UNSMIL
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