Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 11 December 1998 from the Permanent Representative of

Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government and further to our earlier letters concerning Israel's attacks on southern Lebanon and the Western Bekaa and the arbitrary practices against the civilian inhabitants in which it engages on a daily basis, I have the honour to notify you of the series of such incidents that took place in November 1998.

1 November 1998

Between 0530 and 0645 hours the occupying Israeli forces and the client militia fired two 81-mm mortar shells at Wadi al-Shamis, the Yuhmur al-Shaqif lowland and areas along the Zahrani River from their positions on Mashnaqah and Dabshah hills and at Zafatah.

At 0840 hours the client militia fired six 81-mm mortar shells at the area around Anan hill from its position at Mashnaqah.

Between 1005 and 1140 hours Israeli forces and the client militia strafed the areas around their positions at Bayyadah and the Hamra crossing with medium-weapons fire.

Between 0830 and 1845 hours Israeli forces fired four 155-mm artillery shells towards Iqlim al-Tuffah from their position at Abu Qamhah.

2 November 1998

At 0545 hours the client militia fired four 81-mm mortar shells at areas around its position on Anan hill.

At 1630 hours Israeli forces fired 15 155-mm artillery shells at areas along the Zahrani River from their positions in the occupied strip.

Between 1645 and 1730 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar, Majdal Zun, Mansuri, Zibqin and Jibal al-Butm from their position at Tall Ya`qub.

Between 1745 and 2100 hours Israeli forces fired 40 155-mm artillery shells at areas along the Litani River, Jabal Bir al-Dahr and outlying areas of Mimis from their positions in the occupied strip.

3 November 1998

At 0945 hours Israeli forces fired three 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Haddatha and Rshaf from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

At 1330 hours Israeli warplanes attacked outlying areas of Majdal Silm and Shaqra, firing two air-to-surface missiles.

Between 1410 and 1500 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Jba` and Jabal al-Rafi` from their positions at Bi'r Kilab and Zafatah.

Between 1735 and 1800 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at the Yuhmur al-Shaqif lowland and outlying areas of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah and Qa`qa`iyat al-Jisr from its position at Zafatah.

4 November 1998

Between 1100 and 1200 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South and the Western Bekaa at various altitudes.  At 1110 hours they attacked areas along the Litani River, firing two air-to-surface missiles.

From 1130 hours the client militia prohibited passage through the Kafr Falus crossing in both directions.

At 1415 hours Israeli forces fired four 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Jibal al-Butm from their position at Tall Ya`qub.

Between 1430 and 1630 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah and Mayfadun and at the Ayn Bu Siwar road from its positions at Zafatah and on Anan hill.

Between 1815 and 1825 hours Israeli forces fired six 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Majdal Silm and at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

At 1925 hours the client militia directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire at the Mimis intersection and the Hasbayya road from its position on Zaghlah hill.

5 November 1998

Between 0200 and 0700 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several direct-fire projectiles at areas around Sujud and Rum hills from their positions on those hills and in Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 1150 and 1855 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Shaqra and Majdal Silm from their positions at Hula and Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

Between 2045 and 2200 hours several 120-mm mortar shells fired from inside the occupied strip fell on Jba` and Jabal al-Rafi`.

At 2145 hours Israeli forces strafed the area around their position on Dabshah hill with medium-weapons fire.

6 November 1998

At 0950 and 1000 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm mortar shells at Jabal al-Rafi` from its position at Zafatah.

At 1300 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Bekaa area as far as Ba`labakk at medium altitude.

At 1330 hours Israeli forces fired four 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

Between 2120 and 2220 hours the client militia fired several 81-mm and 120-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Habbush and Haddatha from its positions at Zafatah and Shaqif al-Naml.

7 November 1998

At 1210 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar, Haddatha, Bra`shit and Jabal al-Za`tar from their positions at Tall Ya`qub and Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

Between 1305 and 1430 hours the client militia fired several 81-mm mortar shells and a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at the Mu`aytah woodland and areas along the Bisri River from its positions on Anan hill and Radar hill.

Between 1640 and 1730 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Tibnin area at high altitude.

Between 1645 and 1745 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Tyre and Tibnin areas at various altitudes.  At 1720 hours they attacked outlying areas of Yatar and Jibal al-Butm, firing two air-to-surface missiles.

8 November 1998

Between 0255 and 0455 hours the client militia fired several direct-fire projectiles at outlying areas of Majdal Zun from its positions on Hardun, Rajmin and Dabshah hills.

Between 0400 and 0530 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

Between 1030 and 1050 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South at high altitudes.

Between 1100 and 1230 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Sidon East, Iqlim al-Tuffah, Nabatiyah and Ba`labakk areas.

Between 1220 and 1400 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Tumat Niha and Ayn al-Tinah areas at high altitudes.

9 November 1998

At 1115 hours the client militia fired two 81-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Haddatha from its position at Rshaf.

Between 1200 and 1300 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Tyre and Nabatiyah areas at high altitude.

The client militia's Bayt Yahun crossing remained closed to vehicles and pedestrians in both directions.

At 1455 hours Israeli warplanes attacked outlying areas of Jibal al-Butm, firing an air-to-surface missile.

At 1930 and 2200 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm shells at outlying areas of Yatar and Jibal al-Butm from their positions at Tall Ya`qub, Rshaf and Zafatah.

10 November 1998

Between 1110 and 1130 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at Jabal al-Rafi` from their positions at Shurayfah and Zafatah.

Between 0220 and 0550 hours Israeli forces fired several 120-mm and 81-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Yuhmur from their positions at Zafatah and on Dabshah and Rum hills.

Between 0500 and 0540 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South at high altitudes.  At 0520 hours they attacked the outskirts of Luwayzah and Jabal al-Rafi`, firing four air-to-surface missiles.

Between 0500 and 0550 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

11 November 1998

Between 0600 and 0615 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at areas along the Zahrani River and outlying areas of Yuhmur from their positions at Zafatah and on Dabshah hill.

Between 0945 and 0955 hours the Lahad militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at parts of Jabal Sujud from its positions at Zafatah and on Razlan hill.

At 1300 and 1415 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar and Habbush from their positions at Tall Ya`qub and Zafatah and on Dabshah hill.

Between 1330 and 1445 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South and the Shuf at various altitudes.

12 November 1998

Between 0105 and 0545 hours Israeli forces fired several 81-mm mortar shells at the abandoned Army barracks in Nabatiyah from their position on Dabshah hill.

Between 0500 and 0620 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

At 1300 hours Israeli forces fired three 155-mm shells at areas along the Litani River from their position at Abu Qamhah.

Between 1305 and 1315 hours Israeli forces fired four 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position at Bawwabat Markaba.

Between 2100 and 2130 hours Israeli forces fired 40 illumination flare over Malihah hill near Khiyam from their positions in the border strip.

13 November 1998

Between 0810 and 1115 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm mortar shells at Jabal al-Rafi` and areas around Sujud and Radar hills from their positions at Shurayfah, Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 0840 and 1130 hours three Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Sidon, Nabatiyah and Iqlim al-Tuffah areas at high altitudes.

At 1035 hours the client militia fired a guided missile at an outlying area of Bsalim from its position on Suwayda hill.  Rami Muhammad AbuZayd, aged 15, received miscellaneous wounds.

Between 2135 and 2300 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at the abandoned Army barracks in Nabatiyah from its positions at Zafatah and on Burj hill.

14 November 1998

Between 0215 and 0650 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 81-mm and 120-mm mortar shells from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal, Tall Ya`qub, Zafatah and Qal`at al-Shaqif (Château de Beaufort).

Between 0430 and 0530 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

At 0715 hours Israeli forces fired five 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Tibnin from their position at Bawwabat Markaba.

At 1810 hours Israeli forces fired two 130-mm shells towards Jabal Abu Rashid from their position at Abu Qamhah.

15 November 1998

Between 0000 and 0645 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm and 81-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Tibnin and Majdal Silm and at areas along the Litani River from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Qal`at al-Shaqif (Château de Beaufort).

Between 0720 and 0800 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Sidon East and Iqlim al-Tuffah areas at high altitude.

Between 1015 and 1230 hours Israeli forces fired several direct-fire projectiles at the outskirts of Luwayzah and at Mlikh from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

At 2300 hours Israeli forces fired three 81-mm mortar shells at Maydun from Ahmadiyah hill.

16 November 1998

Between 1130 and 1140 hours Israeli forces fired four 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position at Bawwabat Markaba.

Between 1755 and 2110 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Shaqra and Yuhmur from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Zafatah.

Between 1850 and 2245 hours four Israeli helicopters overflew the coastal areas between Tyre and the Zahrani at high altitude.

At 2035 hours the client militia fired four 120-mm mortar shells at areas along the Bisri River from its position on Mashnaqah hill

17 November 1998

Between 1020 and 1800 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Western Bekaa and the South at high altitudes.

At 1755 hours the client militia fired three 155-mm artillery shells at the Yuhmur lowland from its position at Zafatah.

Between 2000 and 2125 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Zahrani area and the coastal Shuf area at high altitude.

Between 2015 and 2030 hours the client militia directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire towards Wadi Nahr al-Fatir from its position at Ayn Qinya.

Between 2120 and 2200 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the Tibnin area at low altitude.  They fired three air-to-surface missiles at outlying areas of Bra`shit.

18 November 1998

At 1045 hours Israeli forces fired four 130-mm artillery shells at Jabal Bir al-Dahr from their position at Ayn Qinya.

Between 1455 and 1615 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South and the Western Bekaa at various altitudes.  They attacked parts of Jabal Sujud, firing two air-to-surface missiles.

At 1550 hours the client militia directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire at Jabal Bir al-Dahr from its position on Zimriya hill.

Between 1740 and 1840 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Qaysiyah, the Yuhmur al-Shaqif lowland and Mazra`at al-Hamra from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Zafatah.

19 November 1998

At 1140 hours the client militia fired two 81-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Anan from its position on Rum hill.

Between 1255 and 1400 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Majdal Zun and Yuhmur and at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Shihin.

Between 1810 and 1840 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Luwayzah, areas along the Tasah Spring, Jabal Safi and Jabal al-Rafi` from their positions at Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 1900 and 2130 hours Israeli forces fired 55 illumination flares over Ayn Qinya hill from their positions in the occupied strip.

20 November 1998

At 0535 hours the client militia fired 13 155-mm artillery shells at Jabal Bir al-Dahr from its positions at Shurayfah and Zaghlah.

Between 0910 and 1300 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the North, the Bekaa, Mount Lebanon and the South at high altitudes, breaking the sound barrier.

At 0915 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells and direct-fire projectiles at areas around Sujud hill from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

At 1135 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Qa`qa`iyat al-Jisr from its position at Zafatah.

Between 1435 and 1500 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Iqlim al-Tuffah area.

21 November 1998

Between 0610 and 0640 hours Israeli forces fired five 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Tibnin from their position at Mays al-Jabal.

Between 0945 and 1000 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

At 1505 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Bra`shit and Tibnin from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

Between 1715 and 1830 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and a number of 81-mm and 120-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Haddatha and Tari from their positions at Haddatha, Rshaf, Saff al-Hawa, Tari and Jabal Hamid.

At 1835 hours Israeli warplanes overflew Tyre at high altitude.

22 November 1998

At 0415 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

At 0530 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm shells at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and on Dabshah hill.

At 0730 hours Israeli warplanes attacked outlying areas of Hinniyah, firing two air-to-surface missiles.

Between 1120 and 1330 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the South.

Between 1815 and 1830 hours two 81-mm mortar shells fired by the client militia from Tahrah hill fell in Tumat Niha.

23 November 1998

At 1515 hours Israeli warplanes attacked outlying areas of Arabsalim, firing two air-to-surface missiles.

Between 1530 and 1900 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Western Bekaa and the South at various altitudes.  At 1825 hours they attacked outlying areas of Jba`, firing an air-to-surface missile.

Between 1825 and 1845 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 81-mm and 120-mm mortar shells at the abandoned Army barracks in Nabatiyah from their positions on Burj and Dabshah hills.

At 1950 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at the abandoned Army barracks in Nabatiyah from its position at Zafatah.

At 2000 hours Israeli forces fired five direct-fire projectiles at outlying areas of Zibqin from their position at Jabal Balat.

24 November 1998

At 0610 hours the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells at Jabal Safi from its position on Razlan hill.

At 1015 hours Israeli warplanes attacked Jabal Ayn al-Tinah, firing an air-to-surface missile.

At 1430 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells at Jabal Sujud from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and Bi'r Kilab.

Between 2130 and 2145 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the Shuf, Zahrani, Nabatiyah and Iqlim al-Tuffah areas at high altitude.

25 November 1998

At 0230 hours the client militia fired four direct-fire projectiles at Jabal Bir al-Dahr from its position on Zaghlah hill.

Between 0730 and 1125 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm and 81-mm mortar shells at areas along the Tasah Spring, Jabal al-Rafi` and the outskirts of Jarju` from their positions at Zafatah, Ksarat al-Urush and Bi'r Kilab and on Dabshah, Razlan and Sujud hills.

Between 0925 and 1025 hours two Israeli helicopters flew along the Litani River towards Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and Zawtar al-Gharbiyah.

Between 1240 and 1500 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South, the Western Bekaa and Mount Lebanon at various altitudes, reaching as far as the Batrun area.

At 2145 hours Israeli forces fired seven illumination flares over Balat from their position on Ahmadiyah hill.

26 November 1998

Between 0115 and 0710 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Majdal Silm and Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their positions at Bawwabat Markaba and Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 0930 and 1000 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Nabatiyah and Iqlim al-Tuffah areas at high altitude.

Between 1020 and 1050 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several direct-fire projectiles at Mlikh from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and on Razlan hill.

At 1845 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at Mazra`at al-Hamra and outlying areas of Qa`qa`iyat al-Jisr from its position at Zafatah.

At 2115 and 2145 hours seven 81-mm mortar shells fired by the client militia from Mashnaqah hill fell in the vicinity of Anan hill.

27 November 1998

At 0805 hours the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells at parts of Jabal Sujud from its position on Razlan hill.

Between 0935 and 1130 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Western Bekaa and the South at high altitudes.

Between 1330 and 1350 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar, Zibqin and Jibal al-Butm from inside the occupied Palestinian territory.

Between 1410 and 1420 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 81-mm mortar shells at Wadi Bisri from their positions on Anan and Dabshah hills.

Between 2200 and 2250 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew Mansuri, Majdal Zun, Zibqin and Bayyadah.

28 November 1998

Between 0200 and 0300 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew Yatar, Majdal Zun, Siddiqin and Mansuri.

Between 0400 and 0530 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

At 0605 hours Israeli forces fired three 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Majdal Zun and Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position at Markaba.

Between 1215 and 1620 hours the client militia fired four 81-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Shaqra and Bra`shit from its positions at Hula and on Ali al-Tahir hill.

29 November 1998

Between 0145 and 0710 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Shaqra, Bra`shit, Haddatha, Ayta al-Jabal and Rshaf and at Wadi Al-Qaysiyah from their positions at Bawwabat Markaba, Zafatah, Bayt Yahun and Hula and on Dabshah hill.

The client militia's Bayt Yahun crossing remained closed to passage in both directions.

Between 1655 and 1700 hours the client militia fired six 120-mm shells at Jabal Bir al-Dahr from its position at Ayn Qinya.

Between 1630 and 1830 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Tibnin, Nabatiyah, Iqlim al-Tuffah and Sidon East areas at high altitude.

Between 1915 and 1955 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position at Bawwabat Markaba.

30 November 1998

Between 0540 and 0605 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 81-mm mortar shells and directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire at the abandoned Army barracks in Nabatiyah from their positions on Ali al-Tahir and Dabshah hills.

Between 0620 and 0630 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position in Markaba.

Between 0920 and 1130 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Western Bekaa, the Shuf and the South at high altitudes.

Between 1700 and 2000 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Shaqra and Majdal Silm and at the Yuhmur al-Shaqif lowland from their positions at Bawwabat Markaba and Zafatah.

The Lebanese Government strongly condemns the continued Israeli occupation and the fresh attacks and arbitrary practices against the Lebanese civilian population that have left one person wounded and have caused further serious damage to property.

Like previous attacks, this new series is in flagrant violation of the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon and constitutes a breach of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, of international law and of basic human rights.

I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 40, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Samir MOUBARAK

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

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