Mideast situation – Incident in the Suez Canal – Letter from Egypt

On instructions of my Government and further to my letters addressed to you regarding Israeli violations of the cease-fire, I have the honour to draw your attention to additional Israeli violations which took place along the cease-fire lines between 12 January 1974 and 15 January 1974, inclusive.

An annex enumerating these violations is attached, and detailed complaints in respect of it have been lodged with the United Nations observers headquarters.

I have the honour to request that this letter be circulated as an official document of the Security Council.

Israeli cease-fire violations between 12 January and 15 January 1974

On 12 January

1. Between 1000 and 1315 hours local time , Israeli forces opened fire from mortars and machine-guns on our positions in the northern sector east of the Suez Canal.

2. Between 1300 and 1930 hours, Israeli forces opened machine-gun fire sporadically on our positions in the southern sector east of the Suez Canal.

3. At 1000 hours, Israeli forces opened artillery fire on our positions from three areas north of Wadi Elaashra, west of the Suez Canal.

On 13_January

4. At 1015 hours, Israeli forces opened tank fire on our positions from three areas north of Wadi Elaashra, west of the Suez Canal.

5. At 0930 hours, Israeli forces opened mortar and small-arms fire on our positions from the area west of Wahat Elmanaief, west of the Suez Canal.

6. At 1215 hours, Israeli forces opened artillery fire on our positions from the area north of Gabal Attaka, west of the Suez Canal.

7. At 1255 hours, Israeli forces opened tank fire on our positions in the area of Gabal Oum Kathib, west of the Suez Canal.

8. At 1405 hours, Israeli forces opened artillery and tank fire on our forces in the area of Wadi Elaashra, west of the Suez Canal.

9. At 1220, 1300, and 1325 hours, Israeli forces opened mortar fire on our positions from the area west of Wadi Abou Hessah, west of the Suez Canal.

10. Between 1515 and 1525 Israeli forces opened machine-gun fire on our positions in the area of Ismailia Serapium crossroads.

11. At 2112 hours and between 2315 and 2350 hours, Israeli forces shelled our positions in the area of Kathib Aboul Arouk in Sinai.

12. At 2215 hours , Israeli forces opened machine-gun fire on our positions in the area west of Elmanaief Canal and south of Ismailia Canal.

On l4 January

13. Between 1015 and 1035 hours, Israeli forces undertook technical constructions in the area of Kathib Aboul Arouk under the cover of heavy mortar firing on our positions.

14. During the morning, Israeli forces opened sporadic artillery fire on our positions in the area of Kebrit.

15. At 0730 hours, Israeli forces opened small-arms fire on our positions from the area of Bir Elborg in Sinai.

16. Between 1230 and 1235 Israeli forces in the aforementioned area opened mortar fire on our positions.

17. Between 1300 and 1320 Israeli forces opened small-arms fire on our positions from the area west of Elmanaief Canal.

On 15 January

18. Between 0015 and 0025 hours, Israeli forces opened mortar fire on our positions from the area of Kathib Aboul Arouk.

19. Between 1250 and 1315 Israeli forces opened artillery, mortar, and tank fire on our positions in the city of Suez from areas of Almauthalath, Kafr Elarab, Kafr Oum Abdou and Wabour Elmian.

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