UNIFIED PROTECTOR: NATO MISSION OVER LIBYA ENDS

摘要

Forces return home as no-fly zone operation winds down and remarkable missions are revealed. OPERATION 'ODYSSEY Dawn' started on March 19 as the mission to enforce a no-fly zone under UN Resolution 1973, in order to protect Libyan citizens from Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime. 'Odyssey Dawn' ran from March 19-30 with the US very much taking the lead; then NATO assumed command of what became Operation 'Unified Protector' on March 27. With the downfall of the Gaddafi regime and the passing of control to a new Libyan government, the NATO mission formally ended on October 31. NATO partner forces quickly scaled back their presence in the region, returning from their various deployed operating locations. French assets used in Operation 'Harmattan', including the Souda Bay detachment of Mirage 2000D/Ns and Mirage F1CRs and the more recently activated Sigonella detachment of five Rafales, went back home. The carrier Charles de Gaulle had been withdrawn in August. The French AF and Navy amassed an impressive 27,000 flight hours, which broke down into 3,100 offensive, 1,200 reconnaissance, 400 air defense, 340 airspace control and 580 aerial refueling sorties. As of October 14 the French forces had employed some 225 AASM precision bombs, 15 SCALP-ER cruise missiles, 950 bombs, and 431 HOT missiles from French Gazelle helicopters.