Mideast situation/Status of cease-fire – UNTSO supplemental information – SecGen report

Further report on the status of the cease-fire

in the Middle East

The Chief of Staff of UNTSO has submitted the following report on developments in the Israel-Lebanon sector during the period 27 January to 2 February 1975:

1. Activity in the sector during the period under review remained at a very low level.

2. Israel forces personnel continued to occupy daily, during daylight hours, three positions on the Lebanese side of the armistice demarcation line (ADL) near border pillar 11 (AMR 1799-2788), 1/ 19 (AMR 1907-1749) and 33 (AMR 2004-2904). A fourth position, near border pillar 18 (AMR 1880-2740), was occupied on 28 and 30 January. Israel forces personnel were also observed on 28 and 30 January and 1 February at a previously constructed position near border pillar 14 (AMR 1838-2734, south of Rmaich (see S/11057/Add.544 para. 6 (a)).

3. There were three cases of firing across the ADL, One of which involved an exchange of fire. These were reported as follows:

(a) OP Hin (AMR 1770-2790), east of the village of Marouahine, reported artillery fire by Israel forces on 31 January. It also reported an exchange of automatic-weapons fire on 31 January between Israel forces and unidentified forces east of the OP.

(b) OP Khiam (AMR 2071-3025), south of the village of El Khiejn, reported artillery fire by Israel forces on 29 January.

4. There was one overflight reported during the period. An unidentified Jet aircraft was observed on 29 January flying in the area of OP Mar before crossing the ADL south-south-east of the OP. United Nations military observers were unable to identify the aircraft owing to hazy weather.

5. The Lebanese authorities submitted l4 complaints during the period under review as follows:

(a) Five complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces fire had fallen on Lebanese territory. Three complaints were confirmed by United Nations observation, except for damage.

(b) One complaint concerned an Israel forces jet aircraft overflight. It was not confirmed.

(c) One complaint concerned an Israel forces helicopter overflight.  It wasd not confirmed.

(d) Seven complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces patrols had daily penetrated Lebanese territory in the region of Chebaa (AMR 2200-3055). Six of the complaints also alleged penetration in the region of Rmaich. Penetration in the Rmaich area was confirmed for three of the complaints (see para. 2 above, concerning penetration near border pillar 14). Penetration in the Chebaa area was confirmed for two of the complaints by UNTSO mobile patrols. The remaining complaints were not confirmed; the locations of the alleged incidents were outside United Nations observation range.

1/ AMR – approximate map reference.