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 March 1977. 1/

1. Ground activity decreased and air activity remained at the same level as last month. No naval activity was observed.

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) 1/, 11 (AMR 1799-2788), l4 (AMR 1838-2740, 18 (AMR l880-2740), 19 (AMR 1907-2749) and 33 (AMR 2004-2940.

3. There were five cases of firing across the ADL and one crossing violation. These were reported as follows:

(a) OP Lab (AMR 1643-2772), south of the village of Labouna, reported automatic weapons fire on 1, 6, 17 and 22 March, all by Israel forces.

(b) OP Ras (AMR 1920-2785), south-east of the village of Maroun Er Ras, reported one crossing violation by Israel forces on 30 March (maximum penetration 750 metres).

(c) OP Mar (AMR 1998-2921), south-east of the village of Markaba, reported automatic weapons fire and mortar fire (one round) by Israel forces on 8 March.

4.  There were 11 overflights reported during the period. Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 20, 22 and 27 March (one each day), on 14 and 21 March (two each day) and on 17 March (three overflights).

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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.