Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 10 August 1998 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i.

of the Permanent Mission 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 July 1998.

1 July 1998

At 0035 hours Israeli helicopters overflew the Maydun-Ayn al-Tinah area, strafing the hills and valleys.

At 1150 and 1330 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South and the Shuf at high altitudes.

At 1715 hours Israeli forces fired three 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar from their position at Tall Ya`qub.

At 2025 and 2200 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155, 120 and 81-mm artillery shells at Sujud, outlying areas of Mlikh and Jba`, areas along the Zahrani River, Mlita hill, areas along the Tasah Spring, the Mu`aytah woodland and Wadi Bisri from their positions at Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush and on Dabshah, Sujud and Razlan hills.

2 July 1998

Between 1005 and 1145 hours the client militia fired several 120 and 81-mm shells at outlying areas of Sribbin and Haddatha from its position at Ruways.

Between 1415 and 1745 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155 and 120-mm artillery shells and directed bursts of fire at outlying areas of Tibnin, Bra`shit, Yatar, Mlikh and Kafr Rumman from their positions at Tall Ya`qub, Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Ksarat al-Urush and on Tahrah hill.

Between 1730 and 2200 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155 and 120-mm artillery shells and directed bursts of fire at Wadi Bisri, outlying areas of Ghanduriyah and the area around Sujud and Jabal Safi from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and on Rum, Razlan and Shurayfah hills.

Between 2045 and 2100 hours an Israeli gunboat off Qulaylah fired bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

3 July 1998

Between 0330 and 0500 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of fire in all directions.

Between 1000 and 1055 hours the client militia fired seven 120-mm shells at Jabal Bi'r al-Dahr from its position at Ayn Qinya.

Between 1740 and 1855 hours Israeli forces fired six 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar from their position at Tall Ya`qub.

Between 2225 and 2300 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Nabatiyah and Iqlim al-Tuffah areas at high altitude.

At 2350 hours the client forces fired several shells directly at Mazra`at Umqata from their position on Sujud hill.

4 July 1998

Between 0100 and 0230 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South at high altitudes.

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

Between 1530 and 2310 hours the Lahad militia fired several 155 and 120-mm artillery shells at areas along the Zahrani River, the town of Mlikh, the Mu`aytah woodland, Mazra`at Umqata, Jabal al-Rafi` and outlying areas of Buyut al-Siyad from their positions at Zafatah and on Razlan, Suwayda, Sujud and Rum hills.

At 1735 hours Israeli forces fired five 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar from their positions at Tall Ya`qub.

5 July 1998

Between 0040 and 0600 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155 and 81-mm artillery shells at areas along the Zahrani River, the town of Mlikh and Jabal Safi from their positions at Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush and on Tahrah and Burj hills.

Between 0610 and 0630 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Tibnin area at high altitude.

Between 1130 and 1140 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South, the Shuf and the North at high altitudes.

Between 1735 and 1745 hours Israeli forces fired seven 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar from their position at Tall Ya`qub.

6 July 1998

At 0115 hours Israeli forces fired three 120-mm shells at Jabal Safi from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 1100 and 1145 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Nabatiyah area at high altitude.

Between 1220 and 1250 hours Israeli forces fired eleven 155-mm artillery shells at areas along the Litani River from their position at the Ibl al-Saqi lowland.

Between 1630 and 1645 hours Israeli forces fired six 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar from their position at Tall Ya`qub.

Between 2155 and 2215 hours the client militia fired several 81-mm shells at outlying areas of Haddatha from its position at Shaqif al-Naml.

7 July 1998

Between 0100 and 0200 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium automatic-weapons fire in all directions.

At 1140 hours the Lahad militia directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire at the area around the crossing from its position on Zimriya hill.

At 1255 hours Israeli forces directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire at the abandoned Army barracks in Nabatiyah from their position on Dabshah hill.

Between 2040 and 2115 hours Israeli forces fired two 155-mm artillery shells and several 120-mm shells at outlying areas of Yatar and the fringes of Jabal Sujud and Jabal al-Rafi` from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and Tall Ya`qub.

8 July 1998

Between 0210 and 0310 hours the client militia fired several 81-mm mortar shells at areas along the Zahrani River and outlying areas of Majdal Zun from its positions on Tahrah, Hardun and Bayadah hills.

Between 1100 and 1310 hours the client militia fired several 81-mm mortar shells at areas around its position on Rum hill.

Between 1350 and 1430 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Sidon area at high altitude.

Between 1435 and 1615 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155 and 81-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar, Zibqin and Wadi Bisri and at the Mu`aytah woodland from their positions at Tall Ya`qub and on Rum, Sfariyah and Anan hills.

9 July 1998

Between 1120 and 1135 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Sidon and Tyre areas at high altitude.

Between 1600 and 1800 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155 and 120-mm artillery shells at Jabal Sujud, Jabal Safi and Jabal al-Rafi` from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush, Shurayfah and Zafatah.

At 1835 hours the client militia directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire at the Ali al-Tahir woodland from its position on Ali al-Tahir hill.

At 1900 hours Israeli forces fired nine 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Haddatha and Yatar from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

Between 2150 and 2205 hours an Israeli helicopter overflew areas along the Litani River before departing in the direction of the occupied strip.

10 July 1998

At 0350 hours an Israeli gunboat off Rashidiyah fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire.

Between 1250 and 1320 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired  several 155-mm artillery shells at areas along the Zahrani River and the Sahl area from their positions at Shurayfah and Zafatah.

At 1610 hours the client militia fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire at Mlikh from its position on Razlan hill.

Between 1925 and 2210 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155, 120 and 81-mm artillery shells at areas along the Zahrani River, the Mu`aytah woodland and the Yuhmur lowland from their positions at Zafatah, Ksarat al-Urush and Qal`at al-Shaqif (Château de Beaufort) and on Dabshah and Rum hills.

11 July 1998

At 0620 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm shells at areas along the Zahrani River from its position at Zafatah.

Between 0700 and 0755 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Iqlim al-Tuffah area at high altitude.

Between 0800 and 0910 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the area to the east of Sidon at high altitude.

Between 1500 and 1920 hours the client militia fired several 81-mm mortar shells at Kafr Tibnit and outlying areas of Rshaf and Haddatha from its positions at Shaqif al-Naml and Ruways and on Rajmin, Burj and Ali al-Tahir hills.

Between 2035 and 2200 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155, 120 and 81-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yuhmur, the area around Jarju`, areas along the Litani River and the Mu`aytah woodland from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush, Shurayfah and Zafatah and on Rum hill.

12 July 1998

Between 0030 and 0530 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155 and 81-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yuhmur and Haddatha and areas around Qasr Ghandur and Jarju` from their positions at Zafatah and Ruways and on Dabshah and Ali al-Tahir hills.

Between 0300 and 0530 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

At 1100 the client militia fired a mortar shell at the outskirts of Bra`shit from inside the occupied strip.

Between 1120 and 1140 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Nabatiyah, Tyre and Tibnin areas at high altitudes.

13 July 1998

Between 0110 and 0630 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155, 120 and 81-mm artillery shells and directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire at areas along the Zahrani River, the abandoned Army barracks in Nabatiyah, the area around Qasr Ghandur and outlying areas of Yuhmur al-Shaqif from their positions on Burj, Ali al-Tahir, Dabshah, Tahrah and Suwayda hills and at Zafatah.

At 1140 hours the client militia directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire at Mlikh and the area around Ali al-Tahir hill from its positions on Ali al-Tahir and Razlan hills.

Between 1350 and 1640 hours Israeli forces and the client militia on Sujud hill and at Ksarat al-Urush fired three 120-mm mortar shells and directed several bursts of fire at areas around that hill.

Between 2040 and 2115 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South and the Western Bekaa at high altitudes.

14 July 1998

Between 0700 and 0800 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Iqlim al-Tuffah area at high altitude.

At 1100 hours the client militia directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire at surrounding areas from its position at Zimriya.

Between 1100 and 1230 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155 and 120-mm artillery shells at Jabal al-Rafi`, Luwayzah and areas along the Tasah Spring from their positions at Zafatah, Ksarat al-Urush and Shurayfah and on Sujud hill.

Between 1615 and 2230 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120 and 81-mm artillery shells at Mlita hill, the area around Habbush bridge and areas along the Tasah Spring from their positions at Zafatah, on Sujud and Razlan hills and at Ksarat al-Urush.

15 July 1998

Between 0000 and 0700 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired  several 155, 120 and 81-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Ayta al-Jabal, Yatar, Majdal Silm and Wadi al-Qaysiyah and at areas along the Zahrani River and the area around the abandoned Army barracks and Qasr Ghandur in Nabatiyah from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush, Zafatah and Tall Ya`qub, on Tahrah, Dabshah, Suwayda and Ali al-Tahir hills and at Shaqif al-Naml.

Between 0910 and 1300 hours Israeli warplanes and an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the South at high altitudes.

The Bayt Yahun and Kafr Tibnit crossings, which are under the control of the Lahad militia, remained closed to passage by pedestrians and vehicles in both directions all day long.

At 1835 hours Israeli forces fired a 120-mm mortar shell (phosphorous type) at the fringes of Jabal Sujud from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 2205 and 2240 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew Qal`at al-Shaqif (Château de Beaufort) and Burj and Ali al-Tahir hills at medium altitude.

16 July 1998

Between 0010 and 0745 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155, 120 and 81-mm artillery shells at Mazra`at Umqata, Jabal Sujud and Mlita, at areas along the Litani River and the Tasah Spring and at Jabal al-Rafi` from their positions at Shurayfah, Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush and on Sujud hill.

Between 0650 and 0745 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Iqlim al-Tuffah and Nabatiyah areas at high altitude.

At 1030 hours Israeli warplanes attacked the fringes of Jabal Sujud, firing two air-to-surface missiles.

Between 1725 and 2240 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155, 120 and 81-mm artillery shells at the abandoned Army barracks in Nabatiyah, the Mu`aytah woodland, Mazra`at Umqata, Mlikh, Tiri, Haddatha, areas along the Zahrani River and outlying areas of Arabsalim from their positions at Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush, on Dabshah, Rum and Sujud hills and at Mashnaqah.  The electricity grid sustained damage, and the supply of power to several villages was disrupted.

17 July 1998

Between 0015 and 0600 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm artillery shells at the outskirts of Luwayzah and areas around Suwayda and Sujud hills from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and on Razlan and Suwayda hills.

At 2010 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the area to the east of Sidon at high altitude.

Between 1700 and 2030 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Nabatiyah and Iqlim al-Tuffah areas and the area to the east of Sidon at high altitude.

Between 2030 and 2130 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155 and 120-mm artillery shells at Mazra`at Umqata, the outskirts of Sujud, areas along the Zahrani River and the area round Habbush bridge from their positions at Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush.

18 July 1998

At 0435 hours an Israeli gunboat off Tyre fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

At 1640 hours Israeli forces fired two 120-mm mortar shells at Jabal Safi from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 1810 and 2115 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells at Jabal Sujud, the outskirts of Mlikh and outlying areas of Yuhmur al-Shaqif from their positions at Shurayfah and Ksarat al-Urush, on Sujud hill and at Tayyibah.

Between 2205 and 2215 hours Israeli forces on Dabshah hill fired several 81-mm mortar shells at areas around that position and at the abandoned Army barracks in Nabatiyah.

19 July 1998

Between 0330 and 0400 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

At 1300 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired ten 120-mm mortar shells at Jabal Bi'r al-Dahr from their positions on Zimriya hill and at Abu Qamhah.

Between 1400 and 2330 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Nabatiyah and Sidon areas at high altitude.

Between 2025 and 2100 hours an Israeli helicopter overflew the area around Suwayda hill.

20 July 1998

Between 0710 and 0725 hours Israeli forces fired five 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Tiri and Rshaf from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

Between 1000 and 1130 hours Israeli warplanes overflew Mount Lebanon, the coastal area of the Shuf, the North and the South at various altitudes while breaking the sound barrier.

Between 2245 and 2355 hours Israeli forces in positions on Dabshah hill and at Qal`at al-Shaqif (Château de Beaufort) fired several 81-mm mortar shells and directed bursts of fire at areas around their positions.  The client militia fired three 155-mm artillery shells at the area around the abandoned Army barracks in Nabatiyah and at outlying areas of Kafr Rumman from its position at Zafatah.

At 2320 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired two 120-mm mortar shells at Jabal al-Rafi` from their positions on Sujud hill.

21 July 1998

Between 0950 and 1000 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Sidon area at high altitudes.

Between 1350 and 1400 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the Razlan hills and Jabal Abu Rashid.

Between 1545 and 1615 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired four 155 and 120-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Jarju`, Mlita hill and areas along the Zahrani River from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and Zafatah.

At 2100 hours the client militia fired a 120-mm mortar shell at residential areas of Mashgharah from its position at Tumat Jazzin.

At 2145 hours six illumination flares were fired over Jabal Bi'r al-Dahr from the occupied strip.

Between 2200 and 2330 hours Israeli helicopters overflew Yatar, Kafra, Haddatha, Bra`shit, Sribbin, Qal`at al-Shaqif (Château de Beaufort) and areas along the Litani River.

22 July 1998

At 0620 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at the area around Habbush bridge and several 120-mm artillery shells at areas along the Tasah Spring from their positions at Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush.

At 1335 hours Israeli warplanes attacked Jabal Safi, firing two air-to-surface missiles.

At 1345 hours Israeli warplanes attacked the western fringes of Jabal Ayn al-Tinah, firing two air-to-surface missiles.

At 2010 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155 and 120-mm artillery shells at areas along the Tasah Spring, Mlita hill, Jabal al-Rafi` and outlying areas of Ayn Bu Siwar, Jba` and Mayfadun from their positions at Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush and on Sujud hill.

Between 2110 and 2330 hours an Israeli gunboat patrolled offshore between Bayadah and the Awali River.  While off Rashidiyah camp it fired several bursts of medium automatic-weapons fire in all directions.

23 July 1998

Between 0030 and 0515 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew outlying areas of Sribbin, Haris, Haddatha, Ayta al-Jabal and Bra`shit.

Between 0530 and 0650 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and directed several bursts of medium automatic-weapons fire at outlying areas of Mayfadun, areas along the Zahrani River and Mazra`at al-Hamra from its positions in Zafatah and on Tahrah hill.

Between 1400 and 1730 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 81-mm mortar shells and directed bursts of fire at Luwayzah from their positions on Sujud, Razlan and Tahrah hills.

At 2025 hours Israeli forces fired several 120-mm mortar shells at Mazra`at Umqata from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

24 July 1998

Between 0600 and 0625 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at areas along the Zahrani River, Mazra`at al-Hamra and the area around Habbush bridge from its position at Zafatah.

At 0910 hours Israeli forces fired a 120-mm mortar shell at the area between Maydun and Ayn al-Tinah from their position on Ahmadiyah hill.

At 1030 hours Israeli forces fired six 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Zillaya from their position at Abu Qamhah.

Between 1125 and 1200 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South and the coastal area of the Shuf at high altitudes.

At 1245 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at areas along the Zahrani River from their positions on the Razlan hills and at Ksarat al-Urush and Zafatah.

25 July 1998

At 0615 hours Israeli forces fired several 155 and 120-mm artillery shells at the fringes of Jabal Sujud, Mazra`at Umqata, areas along the Tasah Spring and outlying areas of Bra`shit from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush, on Shurayfah hill and at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

Between 1315 and 1520 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery at outlying areas of Yatar, Tibnin, Bra`shit and Mayfadun from their positions at Tall Ya`qub, Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Zafatah.

Between 0845 and 1600 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Iqlim al-Tuffah and Nabatiyah areas at high altitude.

Between 1900 and 2150 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120 and 81-mm mortar shells at the Mu`aytah woodland, Jabal Sujud and outlying areas of Ayta al-Jabal and Haddatha from their positions on Rum hill and at Bayt Yahun.

26 July 1998

The Bayt Yahun crossing, which is controlled by the client militia, remained closed to passage by pedestrians and vehicles in both directions all day long.

Between 0800 and 1230 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South at high altitudes while breaking the sound barrier.

Between 1100 and 1130 hours the Lahad militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Mayfadun and Mazra`at al-Hamra from its position at Zafatah.

Between 2020 and 2130 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at Mazra`at al-Hamra and areas along the Zahrani River from its position at Zafatah.

At 2215 hours three illumination flares fired by Israeli forces in the occupied strip were seen over Jabal Bi'r al-Dahr.

27 July 1998

Between 0430 and 0500 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

At 1255 hours Israeli forces fired five 120-mm artillery shells at Jabal Bi'r al-Dahr from their position on Ayn Qinya hill.

Between 1330 and 1400 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South and the Western Bekaa at high altitudes.

Between 1330 and 1450 hours Israeli forces fired several 120-mm mortar shells at areas along the Tasah Spring from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

At 1845 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired four 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Haddatha and Ayta al-Jabal from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Saff al-Hawa'.

28 July 1998

Between 0420 and 0545 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Haddatha and Ayta al-Jabal from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Shaqif al-Naml and on Suwayda and Burj hills.

At 0930 hours the client militia directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire at Wadi Bisri from its position on Anan hill.

Between 1155 and 1205 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South at high altitudes.

At 1830 hours Israeli forces fired six tank shells at the Mimis sector from their position in the Ayn Qinya locality.

Between 2305 and 2335 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the Sidon, Nabatiyah and Iqlim al-Tuffah areas and the coastal area of the Shuf.

29 June 1998

Between 0030 and 0445 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Bra`shit and Haddatha from their positions at Zafatah and Bayt Yahun.

At 0615 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

At 1535 hours the client militia directed several bursts of medium-weapons fire at Wadi Bisri from its position on Anan hill.

Between 2045 and 2130 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Kafur, areas along the Zahrani River and the Yuhmur lowland from its position at Zafatah.

Between 2110 and 2115 Israeli forces and the client militia fired two 120-mm mortar shells at Mlita and Jabal Safi from their positions on Sujud hill and at Ksarat al-Urush.

30 July 1998

Between 0005 and 0100 hours Israeli forces fired several 120-mm mortar shells at Mlikh from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 1300 and 1330 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Majdal Zun, Mansuri and Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Tall Ya`qub.

Between 1335 and 1435 hours the client militia fired several 81-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Haddatha and Rshaf from its positions at Shaqif al-Naml and Ruways.

Between 1630 and 1635 hours Israeli warplanes attacked Jabal Safi and Mlita hill, firing four air-to-surface missiles.

At 1850 hours Israeli forces fired six 155-mm artillery shells at Mazra`at al-Hamra from their position at Shurayfah.

31 July 1998

Between 0635 and 0655 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells and several 120-mm shells at areas along the Tasah Spring and outlying areas of Jba` from their positions at Shurayfah and Ksarat al-Urush.

At 1230 hours Israeli forces expelled Mrs. Su`ad Hasan al-As`ad and her three children, Hamad (born 1980), Nusayr (born 1985) and Zulfa (born 1998), from Udaysah by way of the Kafr Tibnit crossing.  She is the wife of one Kamil Yusuf Abd Allah, who has been held in Khiyam prison since 25 January 1998.

At 1815 and 1915 hours Israeli forces fired several 120-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Zibqin from their positions at Dahr al-Maydan and Jabal Balat.

At 2050 hours Israeli warplanes attacked Wadi Bisri, firing two air-to-surface missiles.

Between 2000 and 2205 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155, 120 and 81-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Yuhmur al-Shaqif, Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, Mazra`at al-Hamra, Kafr Rumman and Wadi al-Kafur from their positions at Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush and on Dabshah, Suwayda and Rum hills.

The Lebanese Government strongly condemns the continued Israeli occupation and the fresh attacks and arbitrary practices against the Lebanese civilian population that 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 37, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Hicham HAMDAN    

Chargé d'affaires a.i.

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