Violations across the Blue Line – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 5 May 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

  Israel continues its acts of aggression against Lebanon in defiance of the United Nations resolutions and the appeals of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, his Special Envoy to the Middle East, Terje Larsen, and his Personal Representative, Staffan de Mistura, who continually call on Israel to desist from its violations of Lebanese airspace and its acts of aggression against Lebanon. The latest of those violations and acts of aggression occurred yesterday, 5 May 2004, at 1030 hours and at 1215 hours, when 16 Israeli military aircraft violated Lebanese airspace, flying at medium altitudes over areas of the South, the East and Kasrawan and breaking the sound barrier. The Israeli warplanes were opposed by ground anti-aircraft fire from the Lebanese Army and the resistance. At 1550 hours on the same day the Israeli Air Force made an attack on the western outskirts of the village of Zibqin, firing two air-to-ground missiles. Then, at 1555 hours, they attacked the eastern outskirts of the village, again firing an air-to-ground missile. At 1557 hours the Israeli Air Force attacked the outskirts of the village of Lif in the Jabal Hammid district, also firing air-to-ground missiles.

  Israel’s continued acts of aggression against Lebanon and violations of its airspace and territorial waters constitute a threat to stability and peace in the region and will in no way facilitate the pacification which Lebanon seeks, emphasizing the need for Israeli forces to withdraw from the Shab`a Farms and all other occupied Lebanese territory.

  On instructions from my Government, I transmit to you herewith a list of Israeli violations and acts of aggression against Lebanon issued by the army leadership:

 –   On 5 May 2004 at various times intensive sorties by the Israeli Air Force were observed in Lebanese airspace, violating this airspace throughout the day and carrying out the aerial bombardment of southern regions.

 –   On 5 May 2004 at 1550 hours the Israeli Air Force attacked the western outskirts of the village of Zibqin, firing two air-to-ground missiles. Then, at 1555 hours, it attacked the eastern outskirts of the village, again firing an air-to-ground missile. At 1557 hours the Israeli Air Force attacked the outskirts of the village of Bayt Lif in the Jabal Hammid district, also firing two air-to-ground missiles.

 –   Earlier on the same day, at 1030 hours and 1215 hours, 16 Israeli military aircraft had violated Lebanese airspace, all flying at medium altitudes over areas of the South, the East and Kasrawan and breaking the sound barrier. The Israeli warplanes were opposed by ground anti-aircraft fire from the Lebanese Army and the resistance in these areas.

  An Israeli military source has claimed that its warplanes had carried out air raids against ground anti-aircraft batteries belonging to the resistance in the South after these anti-aircraft batteries had fired at the Israeli aircraft, endangering and causing panic among the population of adjacent Israeli settlements.

  These acts of aggression did not result in any injuries or loss of life.

  These grave violations are part of a series of persistent and provocative Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace and territory and are 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 and prevent Israel from such dangerous acts, which pose a threat to international security and peace. Israel must assume full responsibility for those acts and for any consequences to which they may give rise.

  In drawing your attention to the gravity and possible consequences of such acts, 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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