NATO conducted 70 air raids over Libya on Saturday, the Western military alliance said Sunday, in its daily report of its previous day's activities, dpa reported.
As part of their remit to implement United Nations-authorized military action against Libya, NATO planes are both enforcing a no-fly zone and targeting Libyan military objectives to prevent attacks on civilians.
On April 2, jet fighters took off 184 times, and performed 70 "strike sorties," the alliance said. On Thursday and Friday the daily "strike sorties" had numbered 74.
NATO explained that strike sorties "are intended to identify and engage appropriate targets, but do not necessarily deploy munitions each time."
Since Thursday, a total of 547 sorties and 218 strike sorties have been conducted.
NATO also said that its ships, which are enforcing a naval arms embargo on Libya, hailed four vessels on Saturday "to determine destination and cargo. One boarding was required."
A total of 34 vessels have been hailed since naval patrols in the central Mediterranean started on March 23, the alliance said.