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 January 1977.

1. Ground and air activity remained essentially at the same level as last month.  Significant ground activity occurred on 16 January in the vicinity of the village of Bent Jbail (AMR 1908-2805). 1/

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), 11 (AMR 1799-2788), l4 (AMR 1838-2740, 18 (AMR 1880-2740), 19 (AMR 1907-2749) and 33 (AMR 2004-2904).

3. There were 11 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 by Israel forces on 11 January.

(b) OP Hin (AMR 1770-2790), east of the village of Marouahine, reported automatic weapons fire on 1, 2, 11 (two reports), l6, 27 and 31 January, all by Israel forces.

(c) OP Ras (AMR 1920-2785), south-east of the village of Maroun Er Ras, reported artillery fire and anti-aircraft weapons fire on 16 January, both by Israel forces.

(d) OP Mar (AMR 1998-2921), south-east of the village of Markaba, reported mortar fire (three rounds) from Lebanese territory by unidentified forces impacting in Israel on 24 January.

(e) Maqoura Out station (AMR l629-2805), on the coast near the village of Waqoura, reported that an Israel forces naval vessel penetrated Lebanese territorial waters on 17 January (maximum penetration 6,000 metres).

4.  There were 16 overflights reported during the period. Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 10, 24 and 31 January (one each day), and on 12, 13, 14 and 23 January (two each day) and on 18 January (five overflights).

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1/ AMR:  approximate map reference.