Mideast situation – UNTSO – Report on the status of the cease-fire

Further report on the status of the cease-fire

in the Israel-Lebanon sector

The Chief of Staff of UNTSO has submitted the following report on developments in the Israel-Lebanon sector during January 1978. 1/

1. Ground and air activity were at a low level during the month. No naval activity was observed. UNTSO operations in Lebanon continued to be hindered by incidents with de facto forces involving vehicle hijackings, denial of freedom of movement, armed thefts, forced entry into OPs, mined roads and shooting at or into, the immediate vicinity of OP relief/logistics operations.

2. Israel forces personnel continued to occupy six positions on the Lebanese side of the armistice demarcation line (ADL) near border pillars 6 (AMR 1680-2770), 2/ 11 (AMR 1799-2788), 14 (AMR 1838-2734), 18 (AMR 1880-2740), 19 (AMR 1907-2749) and 33 (AMR 2004-2904).

3. There were three cases of firing across the ADL or across the line between Lebanese territory and Israel-occupied Syrian territory.  There were seven crossing violations.  These were reported as follows:

(a)  OP Ras (AMR 1920-2785), south-east of the village of Maroun Er Ras, reported automatic weapons fire by Israel forces on 12 January. Additionally, the OP reported crossing violations by Israel forces in the vicinity of border pillar 20 (AMR 1914-2760) on 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30 and 31 January (maximum penetration 500 metres each day).  The observers were unable to determine the exact purpose of the crossings owing to the restrictions outlined in paragraph 1 above, but personnel involved appeared to consist of a working party.

(B) OP Khiam (AMR 2071-3025), south of the village of El Khiam, reported artillery fire on 2 and 30 January, 20 and 10 rounds respectively, both "by Israel forces.

4. There were 13 overflights reported during the period. Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 1, 6, 12, 15, 18, 24 and 31 January (one each day) and on 13, 14 and 30 January (two each day).

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1/ UNTSO observers are stationed in the Israel-Lebanon sector on the Lebanese side of the armistice demarcation line, in accordance with the consensus approved by the members of the Security Council on 19 April 1972, to observe the cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon called for by the Security Council. The present report of the Chief of Staff of UNTSO concerns essentially developments observed and reported by UNTSO observers in this context.