Violations across the Blue Line – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 25 March 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

  On instructions from my Government, I provide you with the following summary of Israeli violations and acts of aggression against Lebanon:

   Violations of airspace

  Between 0945 and 1015 hours on 13 March 2004, Israeli military aircraft overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms at very high altitude.

  Between 1650 and 2220 hours on 14 March 2004, an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew north-east over the sea off Khaldah at a distance of 11 miles from the coast and circled over the sea between Beirut and Damur at a distance of 6 miles from the coast, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1715 and 1745 hours on the same day, two Israeli enemy helicopters overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms.

  Between 1805 and 2100 hours on the same day, an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew over the sea off Tyre at a distance of 12 miles from the coast, heading towards Sidon, and circled over the sea between the Tyre and Sa`diyat areas at a distance of 6 miles from the coast, thus violating Lebanese airspace. 

  Between 1050 and 1100 hours on 15 March 2004, Israeli military aircraft overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms at very high altitude.

  On the same day, between 1930 and 2215 hours, an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the sea off Sidon at a distance of 12 miles from the coast, heading towards Damur, and circled over the sea between Damur and Tyre at a distance of 7 miles from the coast, thus violating Lebanese airspace. 

  Between 2205 hours on 15 March and 0050 hours on 16 March 2004, an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the sea off Damur at a distance of 12 miles from the coast, heading in the direction of Beirut, and circled over the sea between Beirut and Sa`diyat at a distance of 7 miles from the coast, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 0800 and 1035 hours on 16 March 2004, Israeli military aircraft overflew the areas of Jazzin, Marj `Uyun and Hasbayya at very high altitude, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1710 and 1900 hours on the same day, two Israeli enemy helicopters overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms at very high altitude.

  Between 1848 and 2134 hours on the same day, an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the sea west of Sidon at a distance of 12 miles from the coast, then circled between Damur and Sidon at a distance of 2 miles from the coast, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 2053 hours on 16 March and 0035 hours on 17 March 2004, an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the sea opposite the Zahrani area at a distance of 12 miles from the coast, heading towards the Rumaylah area, then circled between Damur and Sidon, thus violating Lebanese airspace. 

  At 1847 hours on 17 March 2004, an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the South off Ra's Naqurah, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1900 and 1920 hours on the same day, two Israeli helicopters overflew the occupied territories opposite the towns of Kafr Killa and `Adaysah. 

  Between 2230 hours on 17 March and 0200 hours on 18 March 2004, an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew north over the sea opposite the Zahrani area at a distance of 12 miles from the coast, thus violating Lebanese airspace. 

  Between 0925 and 1050 hours on 18 March 2004, an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew east over the sea opposite the Zahrani area at a distance of 12 miles from the coast and circled over the shore and the mainland over Sidon, Tyre, Beirut and Damur, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

    Violations of territorial waters

  At 0535 hours on 12 March 2004, in the open sea off Ra's Naqurah, an Israeli military boat fired a number of rounds in the direction of the said waters.

  Between 0245 and 0300 hours on 14 March 2004, in the open sea off Ra's Naqurah, an Israeli military boat fired two flare bombs over the said waters. 

  These grave violations are part of a continuous series of provocative Israeli violations of Lebanon's territorial waters, airspace and land in contravention of the principles of international law and the resolutions of international legitimacy, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations has repeatedly called for their cessation.

  In view of these violations and the stepping-up of Israeli threats to Lebanon and the safety of its territory and its citizens, Lebanon calls upon the Security Council to deter Israel from such violations and threats, which place international peace and security in jeopardy. Israel must assume full responsibility for the repercussions and consequences of such acts. 

  In drawing your attention to the gravity and possible consequences of such acts of aggression, I request to have this letter of complaint circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 37, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Sami Kronfol
Ambassador
Permanent Representative

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