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 December 1976.

1. Ground and air activity decreased during the period under review.

2. Israel forces personnel continued to be observed occupying six positions on the Lebanese side of the armistice demarcation line (ADL) near border pillars 6 (AMR 1680-2770) 1/ (except on 26 December), 11 (AMR 1799-2788), l4 (AMR 1838-2740 (except on 9, l4, 21, 23, 25, 26, 29, 30 and 31 December), 18 (AMR 1880-2740) (except on 9, 14, 25, 26, 29, 30 and 31 December), and 33 (AMR 2004-2904) (except on 26, 29 and 30 December).

3. There were 10 cases of firing across the ADL, one of which involved an exchange of fire. There were also two crossing violations. These were incidents reported as follows:

(a) OP Hin (AMR 1770-2790), east of the village of Marouahine, reported automatic-weapons fire on 24 (two reports), 26 and 30 December, and small-arms fire on 24 December, all by Israel forces.  It also reported an exchange of fire on 24 December, initiated by three rounds of mortar or rocket fire from unidentified forces. Israel forces reacted with automatic-weapons fire. Additionally the OP reported one crossing violation by Israel forces on 24 December (maximum penetration 1,000 metres).

(b) OP Ras (AMR 1920-2785), south-east of the village of Maroun Er Ras, reported artillery fire and automatic-weapons fire on 17 December, both by Israel forces.

(c) Naqoura Outstation (AMR 1629-2805), on the coast near the village of Naqoura, reported that an Israel forces naval vessel penetrated Lebanese territorial waters on 1 December (maximum penetration 6,500 metres).

k.  There were 13 overflights reported during the period.  Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 1, 10, 13 and 28 December (one each day), on 4, 12 and 23 December (two each day) and on 6 December (three overflights).

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1/ AMR – approximate map reference.