NATO is conducting operations over Libya to support UN resolutions 1970 and 1973, which call for establishing an arms embargo, instituting a "no-fly" zone, and protecting the civilian population of Libya. These missions are going reasonably well, particularly the no-fly zone and arms embargo which are both clear mission successes.
Since NATO took over the Libyan mission at the end of March (see my earlierblog for a description of the mission), we have launchedalmost 6,000 total aircraft sorties. Over 2,500 of them have been strikeand suppression of air defenses. While the US provides about 25 percent ofthe support sorties (intelligence, refueling, surveillance, reconnaissance,suppression of enemy air defense), the rest of the coalition provides theremaining 75 percent.
Not surprisingly, I’ve received a lot of questions about what is happening in Libya in both my capacity as Commander of U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and as the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR).