Letter dated 16 March 2004 from the Permanent Representative
of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General
On instructions from my Government, I provide you hereinafter with a summary of Israeli violations and acts of aggression against Lebanon, as follows.
Violations of airspace
Between 2200 hours on 2 February and 0225 hours on 3 February 2004 an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms, heading north, then proceeded towards Jubb Jannin, Anjar and Riyaq, circled between the towns of Riyaq and Tayyibah, returned in the direction of Sidon and circled over Sidon and Damur, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
Between 0305 and 0830 hours on 3 February 2004 an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew eastward over the sea off Sidon until it reached Damur, then circled between Damur and Sidon. It then headed for Khaldah, Beirut, Jounieh and Byblos (Jubayl), reaching Batrun, whereupon it proceeded in an easterly direction, then circled between the Ihdin and Bsharre areas and subsequently between Shikka and Tripoli, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
During various intervals between 1135 and 1400 hours on 4 February 2004 two Israeli helicopters overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms.
Between 1145 and 1330 hours on 8 February 2004 Israeli military aircraft overflew areas in the South, Kurah, Batrun, and Bsharre at very high altitude, breaking the sound barrier. They circled over the South and Shikka and were met with fire from ground anti-aircraft batteries belonging to the army and elements of the resistance.
Between 1155 and 1210 hours on the same day, four Israeli military aircraft overflew Lebanon, two over the occupied Shab`a Farms, heading north towards the Hirmil area, and the other two over the sea off Jounieh at a distance of 10 miles
from the coast, proceeding east as far as Hirmil, then north, all four thus violating Lebanese airspace.
At 1157 hours on the same day, two Israeli military aircraft flew east over the sea off Jounieh until they reached the town of Ihdin, then circled over Shikka, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
Between 1225 and 1245 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Tibnin and Bint Jubayl areas at very high altitude, subsequently returning between 1345 and 1400 hours and circling over the regions of Tyre and Naqurah, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
Between 1230 and 1325 hours two Israeli military aircraft flew north over the Marj Uyun region and circled over parts of the South, reaching as far as the region of Bayt al-Din, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
Between 1300 and 1330 hours on the same day two Israeli military aircraft overflew the sea off Shikka at a distance of 10 miles from the coast, circled over Shikka, headed south over the coast as far as the Sarafand area, returned in a northerly direction over the coast, proceeded east as far as the Ihdin region and then headed south to Damur and then west, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
At 2209 hours on the same day three Israeli military aircraft entered Lebanese airspace, coming in over the sea off Jounieh, circled over the Mount Lebanon range, Jounieh and Byblos and 10 miles out over the sea, then left at 2300 hours over the sea off Jounieh.
Between 2210 and 2300 hours on the same day, two Israeli military aircraft overflew the sea off Jounieh at a distance of 10 miles from the coast, proceeded towards Jounieh and circled over the Mount Lebanon range, Jounieh and Byblos and 10 miles out over the sea, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
Between 2212 and 2300 hours on the same day an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew in an easterly direction over the sea off Jounieh, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
Between 1215 and 1245 hours on 9 February 2004, Israeli military aircraft overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms area at medium altitude, then returned and overflew the same area between 1500 and 1510 hours.
Between 1800 and 1820 hours on the same day two Israeli enemy helicopters overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms, then returned between 1820 and 1850 hours, flying off the coast of the Naqurah area, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
Between 1125 and 1140 hours on 10 February 2004, Israeli military aircraft overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms area at very high altitude, then returned and overflew the same area between 1545 and 1700.
Between 1715 and 1730 hours on 26 February 2004 two Israeli helicopters overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms.
Between 1120 and 1405 hours on 29 February 2004 an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the sea off Tyre at a distance of 12 miles from the coast, heading towards Tyre, and circled over the cities of Sidon and Tyre at an altitude of 28,000 feet, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
Between 1555 and 2150 hours on the same day an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew over the sea west of the city of Sidon in the direction of the coast at a distance of 12 miles, then headed towards Dahr al-Baydar and Zahle and circled between Zahle and Anjar, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
Between 1520 and 1755 hours on 1 March 2004 an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew over the sea west of the city of Sidon in the direction of Khaldah, circled over the sea off Khaldah at a distance of two miles from the coast, proceeded towards the areas of Hazimiyah, Khaldah, Na`imah and Ra’s Beirut and circled over them, thus violating Lebanese airspace. Between 1815 and 1835 hours, military aircraft belonging to the Israeli enemy overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms at very high altitude.
Between 2015 and 2040 hours on the same day an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew north over the sea opposite the Zahrani region at a distance of 11 miles from the coast, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
At 2345 hours on the same day an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft, flying at low altitude, circled over the Republic Palace and the Ministry of Defence, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
At 0850 hours on 1 March 2004, Israeli military aircraft overflew the precinct of the `Alma al-Sha`b control post at medium altitude.
At 0920 hours enemy aircraft flew at medium altitude over the precinct of the Bint Jubayl detachment.
At 1830 hours Israeli military aircraft overflew the precinct of the `Alma al-Sha`b control post at medium altitude and the occupied Shab`a Farms at high altitude.
At 2145 hours on the same day the said aircraft overflew the Bint Jubayl area at medium altitude.
At 0710 hours on 2 March 2004, Israeli enemy military aircraft overflew the precinct of the `Alma al-Sha`b control post at medium altitude.
At 0950 hours Israeli helicopter aircraft flew over the border with occupied Palestine opposite the precinct of the Bint Jubayl detachment.
At 1350 hours on the same day, sounds of explosions, the cause and nature of which are unknown, were heard inside the occupied Shab`a Farms.
At 1805 hours Israeli enemy forces fired a number of flare bombs by means of artillery shells from their positions in the vicinity of Birkat Rishah in the direction of Ra’s Naqurah — over the sea.
At 1830 hours on the same day Israeli helicopter aircraft overflew the border with occupied Palestine and also overflew the area of Birkat Rishah and Yarin along the border line.
At 1910 hours on the same day Israeli military aircraft overflew the Bint Jubayl area at medium altitude.
Between 1445 and 2305 hours on 2 March 2004, Israeli military aircraft overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms area at very high altitude.
Between 0145 and 0245 hours on 4 March 2004 an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew in a north-easterly direction over the sea off Sidon at a distance of 10 miles from the coast and circled over Beirut International Airport, thus violating Lebanese airspace.
Between 1645 and 1710 hours on the same day two Israeli helicopters overflew the occupied Shab`a Farms area.
Violations of territorial waters
At 0914 hours on 1 February 2004, in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah, an Israeli military boat fired a number of rounds in the direction of the said waters.
Between 1340 hours and 1355 hours on 3 February 2004 an Israeli military boat fired a number of medium-weapons rounds in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah. It then returned between 2005 and 2205 hours and fired three flare bombs and a number of medium-weapons rounds in the direction of the said waters.
Between 0735 hours and 1200 hours on 4 February 2004 an Israeli military boat fired a number of medium-weapons rounds in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah. It then returned and, between 1630 and 1920 hours, fired a number of rounds in the direction of the said waters.
Between 1805 hours and 2020 hours on 7 February 2004, in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah, an Israeli military boat fired two flare bombs over the said waters.
Between 0015 hours and 0050 hours on 8 February 2004 an Israeli military boat fired two flare bombs in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah. It then returned and, between 1800 and 2005 hours on the same day, fired a number of medium-weapons rounds and a flare bomb over the said waters.
At 0315 hours on 9 February 2004, in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah, an Israeli enemy military boat fired a number of rounds in the direction of the said waters.
Between 1150 hours and 1245 hours on 10 February 2004, an Israeli enemy military boat fired a number of rounds in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah. It then returned and, at 2209 hours, fired a flare bomb over the said waters.
At 0144 hours on 25 February 2004 three Israeli enemy military boats and two rubber dinghies were seen carrying out maintenance operations on buoys off Ra’s Naqurah.
Between 2135 and 2210 hours on the same day, in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah, an Israeli military boat fired a flare bomb and a number of rounds of fire in the direction of the said waters.
At 0340 hours on 26 February 2004, in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah, an Israeli military boat fired a number of medium-weapons rounds in the direction of the said waters.
At 0745 hours on 27 February 2004, an Israeli enemy military boat fired a number of medium-weapons rounds in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah. It then returned and, at 2050 hours, fired a number of medium-weapons rounds in the direction of the said waters.
At 2244 hours on 29 February 2004, in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah, an Israeli enemy military boat fired a flare bomb over the said waters.
At 2105 hours on 1 March 2004, in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah, an Israeli enemy military boat fired a number of medium-weapons rounds in the direction of the said waters.
At 1045 hours on 2 March 2004, an Israeli enemy military boat fired a number of medium-weapons rounds in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah. It then returned and, between 1515 and 1805 hours, fired a flare bomb and a number of rounds of medium-weapons fire in the direction of the said waters.
At 2005 hours on 3 March 2004, an Israeli enemy military boat fired a flare bomb and a number of rounds of medium-weapons fire in the open sea off Ra’ s Naqurah. It then returned between 1200 and 1310 hours and fired a number of medium-weapons rounds in the direction of the said waters.
Israeli violations and acts of aggression in the field
At 1815 hours on 5 February 2004 Israeli enemy forces, from their positions inside the occupied Shab`a Farms, fired a number of medium-weapons rounds at surrounding areas.
Between 1130 and 1145 hours on 8 February 2004 Israeli enemy forces, from their position opposite the area of Labbunah, fired a number of medium-weapons rounds at the area surrounding the said position.
At 1930 hours on 29 February 2004 Israeli enemy forces, from their position on Ramta hill in the occupied Shab`a Farms, fired a number of medium-weapons rounds towards the area surrounding the said position.
At 1135 hours on 2 March 2004 Israeli enemy forces, from their position on Ramta hill in the occupied Shab`a Farms, fired a number of rounds of light- and medium-weapons fire towards the area surrounding the said position.
These grave violations are part of a continuous series of provocative Israeli violations of Lebanon’s territorial waters, airspace and land in contravention of the principles of international law and the resolutions of international legitimacy, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations has repeatedly called for a halt to them.
In view of these violations and the stepping-up of Israeli threats to Lebanon and the safety of its territory and its citizens, Lebanon calls upon the Security Council to deter Israel from such violations and threats, which place international peace and security in jeopardy. Israel must assume full responsibility for the repercussions and consequences of such acts.
In drawing your attention to the gravity and possible consequences of such acts of aggression, I request to have this letter of complaint circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 37, and of the Security Council.
(Signed) Sami Kronfol
Ambassador
Permanent Representative
* Reissued for technical reasons.
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Document Type: Letter
Document Sources: General Assembly, Security Council
Country: Israel, Lebanon
Subject: Agenda Item, Incidents, Situation in Lebanon
Publication Date: 16/03/2004