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 June 1976.

1. Ground activity remained at a low level while air activity increased during the period.

2. Israel forces personnel continued to occupy daily, during daylight hours, five positions on the Lebanese side of the armistice demarcation line (ADL) near border pillars 11 (AMR 1799-2788), 1/ l4 (AMR 1838-2734 (except on 17, 21 and 22 June), 18 (AMR 1880-2740), 19 (AMR 1907-2749) and 33 (AMR 2004-2904).

3. There were l6 cases of firing across the ADL, one of which involved an exchange of fire.  There were also three crossing violations.  The incidents were reported as follows:

(a) OP Lab (AMR 1614-2772), south of the village of Labouna, reported automatic-weapons fire by Israel forces on 19 June.

(b) OP Hin (AMR 1770-2790), east of the village of Marouahine, reported an exchange of fire on 30 June involving automatic-weapons fire by Israel forces and unidentified forces. United Nations Military Observers were unable to determine which side initiated the fire.  It also reported automatic-weapons fire on 2, 7-9, 11, 13, 18, 20, 21 and 28 June, all by Israel forces.

(c) OP Ras (AMR 1920-2785), south-east of the village of Maroun Er Ras, reported automatic-weapons fire on 3 June, small arms fire on 9 June and a crossing violation on 3 June (maximum penetration 400 metres), all by Israel forces

(d) Naqoura outstation (AMR 1629-2805), on the coast near the village of Naqpura, reported that Israel forces naval vessels penetrated Lebanese territorial waters on 5 and 13 June (maximum penetrations 5,000 metres and 4,000 metres respectively).

4.  There were 41 overflights reported during the period. Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 2, 4-6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, l8-24, 26, 28 and 30 June (one each day), on 3, 8, 11 and l6 June (two each day), on 25 June (three overflights) and on 7 and 13 June (four each day). One overflight by an Israel forces light aircraft was reported on 15 June. Overflights by unidentified jet aircraft were reported on 2 and 26 June (one each day). United Nations Military Observers were unable to identify the aircraft owing to cloudy conditions and high altitude respectively.

5.  The Lebanese authorities submitted one complaint with a request that an inquiry into it be conducted by United Nations Military Observers. The complaint alleged that on 25 June between 0600 and 0900 hours GMT, an Israel force penetrated Lebanese territory in the vicinity of Ed Dhaira (AMR 1708-2789). The inquiry took place on 25 June. The complaint was not confirmed.

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1/ AMR – approximate map reference.