Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 12 April 2002 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission

of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a statistical table showing the number of Israeli violation committed during the month of March 2002 (see annex) and to provide information on Israeli acts of aggression and violations of Lebanon’s airspace and territorial waters between 30 March and 5 April 2002.

   Aerial violations 

Between 1313 and 1400 hours on 30 March 2002 two Israeli warplanes overflew Hasbayya district and circled over the towns of Hasbayya and Dayr Mimas, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

Between 1848 and 2030 hours on 3 April 2002 two Israeli warplanes overflew the Shab`a farmlands and circled over them, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

Between 1938 and 2130 hours on 3 April 2002 an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew over the sea off Damur and circled between Damur and Beirut, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

Between 2108 and 2135 hours on 3 April 2002 four Israeli aircraft overflew the Shab`a and Kafr Shuba areas. Between 2200 and 2312 hours a reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Yarun area heading for Rumaysh, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

Between 0350 and 0505 hours on 4 April 2002 an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew over the sea west of Naqurah at a distance of 3 nautical miles offshore, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

Between 1003 and 1027 hours on 5 April 2002 two Israeli warplanes flew over the sea off Shikka heading for Beirut and circled between Beirut and Shikka, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

Between 1200 and 1310 hours on 5 April 2002 two Israeli warplanes flew over the sea off Tyre heading for the South and circled over parts of the South as far as the Damur area, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

Between 1408 and 1435 hours on 5 April 2002 three Israeli warplanes flew over Naqurah heading north for Beirut and circled over parts of the Shuf and the South, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

Between 1500 and 1530 hours on 5 April 2002 two Israeli warplanes flew over Alma al-Sha`b heading north for Beirut and circled between Beirut and the South, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

Between 1900 and 2025 hours on 5 April 2002 two Israeli warplanes flew over the Kafr Killa area and circled over Kafr Killa, Dayr Mimas and Kafr Shuba, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

    Attacks and ground and air bombardment

Between 1230 and 1340 hours on 30 March 2002 Israeli enemy forces fired 126 artillery shells towards the Salamiyah and Ibl al-Qamh area and hostile warplanes fired 10 missiles in the Kafr Shuba and Sawwanah hill areas. Two women were lightly wounded.

Between 2145 and 2358 hours on 31 March 2002 Israeli enemy forces fired some 1,000 light-weapons rounds and 12 tank shells. A helicopter belonging to the same forces fired a missile at an area in the Ayta al-Sha`b vicinity. 

Between 1640 and 1730 hours on 2 April 2002 Israeli enemy forces fired some 450 light-weapons rounds and 66 mortar rounds and 155-mm artillery shells from their positions towards an area north-east of Kafr Shuba and Hilta. 

These Israeli attacks and violations, which targeted Lebanon’s territory and its airspace and territorial waters, confirm that Israel is continuing its provocations and outrages against Lebanon. They are in flagrant violation of Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and of Lebanon’s sovereignty, and they may pose a threat to security and stability in the region.

I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 42, and of the Security Council.

( Signed) Houssam Asaad Diab
  Chargé d’affaires a.i.

Annex

    Summary of information on Israeli violations during the month of March 2002