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 August 1977. 1/

1. Ground activity increased significantly during the reporting period and occurred along the entire armistice demarcation line (ADL) but was mainly centred around the vicinity of the villages of Yarine (AMR 1723-2789) 2/ and El Khiam (AMR 2075-3035).  Air activity was at approximately the same level as last month, and no naval violations were observed.

2. Israel forces personnel continued to occupy six positions on the Lebanese side of the ADL near border pillars 6 (AMR 1680-2770), 11 (AMR 1799-2788), l4 (AMR 1838-2734), 18 (AMR 1880-2740), 19 (AMR 1907-2749) and 33 (AMR 2004-2904).

3. There were 71 cases of firing across the ADL or across the line between Lebanese territory and Israel-occupied Syrian territory, two of which involved exchanges of fire.  There was one crossing violation. These incidents were reported as follows:

(a) OP Lab (AMR 1643-2772), south of the village of Labouna, reported artillery fire on 9 (four reports), 10 (two reports), 11, 12 (two reports), 27, 30 and 31 (three reports) August, mortar fire on 8 (two reports) and 9 August, and automatic-weapons fire on 6 August, all by Israel forces. Additionally, the OP reported exchanges of mortar fire on 8 and 10 August between Israel and unidentified forces.  The OP also reported one crossing violation by unidentified trucks from Israel to Lebanon on 30 August.

(b) OP Hin (AMR 177O-2790), east of the village of Marouahine, reported artillery fire on 9 (two reports), 10, 11 (two reports), 12, 13, 29, 30 and 31 (two reports) August, mortar fire on 8 (three reports), 10 (two reports) and 11 (two reports) and automatic-weapons fire on 13 and 28 August, all by Israel forces.

(c) OP Ras (AMR 1920-2785), south-east of the village of Meroun Er Ras, reported artillery fire by Israel forces on l6 August.

(d) OP Mar (AMR 1998-2921), south-east of the village of Markaba, reported artillery fire on 14, 15, 20, 22, 23 and 29 August, and mortar fire on 30 August (two reports), all by Israel forces.

(e) OP Khiam (AMR 2071-3025), south of the village of El Khiam, reported artillery fire on 4, 19, 20, 22 (five reports), 27 (two reports), 28, 29 (four reports), 30 (three reports) and 31 (two reports) August, all by Israel forces.

4.  There were 14 overflights reported during the period. Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 24, 25, 26, 29 and 30 August (one each day) and on 15 and 19 August (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 developments observed and reported by UNTSO observers in this context.

2/ AMR – approximate map reference.