Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 23 October 2001 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

  On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to inform you as follows:

  Between 1121 and 1236 hours on 30 September 2001 Israeli warplanes, violating Lebanese airspace, overflew the occupied Shab`a farmlands as far as Shikka at high altitudes and circled over the sea in the Bint Jubayl and Naqurah areas.

  Between 1552 and 1640 hours on 1 October 2001 Israeli warplanes flew over the sea seven nautical miles off Naqurah heading north and circled between Beirut and Shikka. They also overflew the occupied Shab`a farmlands heading north, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1115 and 1215 hours on 2 October 2001 Israeli warplanes overflew the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at high altitudes. They also overflew the towns of Kafr Killa, Bint Jubayl and Yarun and an offshore area west of Naqurah, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1001 and 1040 hours on 3 October 2001 Israeli warplanes overflew the Biqa`, Jubayl, Beirut, Sidon, Damur and Marj Uyun areas.

  Between 1130 and 1155 hours Israeli warplanes again flew over an area off Jubayl heading towards Shikka, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1025 and 1534 hours on 3 October 2001 Israeli warplanes and reconnaissance aircraft overflew the UNIFIL area of operations in 12 sorties at high altitudes, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1520 and 1610 hours on 3 October 2001 two Israeli warplanes overflew the Biqa` and Beirut areas, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1842 and 1925 hours on 3 October 2001 elements of the Israeli enemy forces deployed at Mughr Shab`a, Jabal al-Summaq and Ruwaysat al-Alam in the Shab`a and Kafr Shuba hills fired 85 artillery shells and mortar and tank rounds and 80 light-weapons rounds at an area north of UNIFIL observation post 4-31 near the Shab’a gate and an area south-east of UNIFIL observation post 4-14 east of Kafr Shuba. The shelling also targeted Wadi al-Summaq and an area north of Hilta.

  Between 2210 and 0100 hours on the night of 3/4 October 2001 an Israeli warplane flew between Khaldah and Damur, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1200 and 1245 hours on 4 October 2001 Israeli warplanes overflew the UNIFIL area of operations, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  On 22 October 2001 Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of the Lebanese areas opposite the Shab`a farmlands. Warplanes were used in two attacks on the Kafr Shuba hills, and they fired a number of missiles. The Israeli army also fired some 100 heavy-calibre shells, damaging many dwellings and a great deal of property. The shelling affected Kafr Shuba and cut the road linking Kafr Shuba with Shab`a. Israeli artillery also targeted the outskirts of Kafr Hamam, Bab al-Hawa, Mazra`at Bastarah, Hilta, Shanuh, Jabal Saddanah and Birkat al-Naqqar to the west of Shab`a as well as other nearby Lebanese villages.

  The Israeli aerial violations indicated above confirm that Israel is continuing to provoke and threaten Lebanon. They are in flagrant violation of Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and of Lebanon’s sovereignty, and they pose a threat to security and stability in the region.

  I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 42, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Sélim Tadmoury

 Ambassador

  Permanent Representative