Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 5 February 2001 from the Permanent Representative

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

On instructions from my Government and further to my previous letters on the same subject, I have the honour to convey to you hereunder a list of the violations and infringements that were committed by Israel against Lebanon in the period from 16 to 31 January 2001. They include the detonation of landmines left behind by the Israeli occupation, which injured six persons and caused serious damage. Lebanon regards these incidents as an extension of Israel’s aggression against its people and territory.

16 January 2001

At 0830 and 0840 hours Israeli forces proceeded to blast a number of rocks in the vicinity of their outpost at Mazra`at Fashkul in the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

At 0830 hours the sound of an explosion was heard coming from the Metullah settlement.

At 0940 hours a very large Israeli crane was seen operating at the occupied Ramta site in the occupied Shab`a farmlands in Hasbayya district.

At 1050 hours sounds of explosions were heard coming from the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

At 1150 hours Israeli enemy forces at the Ruwaysat al-Alam outpost in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at the surrounding area.

At 1155 hours six large Israeli gunboats were seen patrolling in an area alongside Lebanese territorial waters.

At 1325 and 1410 hours Israeli forces at the Ruwaysat al-Alam and Ruwaysat al-Summaqah outposts in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at surrounding areas. They also installed a camera mounted on a pole some 10 metres high at their Ruwaysat al-Alam outpost in the same area.

Between 1605 and 1630 hours Israeli enemy forces at Ruwaysat al-Alam hill and Summaqah hill in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at the surrounding area.

Between 2030 and 2055 hours Israeli enemy forces at one of their outposts in the occupied Shab`a farmlands launched several illumination flares over the area around their outpost at Ruwaysat al-Alam, also in the Shab`a farmlands.

17 January 2001

Between 1325 and 1340 hours Israeli enemy forces at the Ruwaysat al-Alam and Summaqah outposts in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at surrounding areas.

At 1355 hours Israeli enemy forces at the Ramta hill and Summaqah hill outposts in the occupied Shab`a farmlands fired a number of direct-fire rounds and directed bursts of medium-weapons fire at the Shanuh locality in an outlying area of Kafr Shuba in the liberated zone. Sabir Abd al-Al (15, mother’s name A’ishah, and a native and resident of Kafr Shuba), who was tending sheep in the area, was wounded in the back by flying stones.

At 1600 hours the same forces fired several direct-fire rounds and directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at the same area.

Between 1915 and 2000 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the occupied Shab`a farmlands. One of them set down near the Summaqah hill outpost, and then both of them left the area.

At 1945 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the Ruwaysat al-Summaqah and Birkat al-Ba`tin area in the Jall al-Ahmar locality in an outlying area of Kafr Shuba [and strafed it with] automatic-weapons fire. They withdrew at 2005 hours.

Between 1935 and 2015 hours Israeli enemy forces at the Ramta hill, Summaqah hill and Ruwaysat al-Alam outposts in the occupied Shab`a farmlands fired several 120-mm mortar rounds and directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at the surrounding area.

At 2145 hours Israeli enemy forces launched several illumination flares over Ruwaysat al-Summaqah and Ramta in an outlying area of Kafr Shuba and an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the locality.

18 January 2001

At 0805 hours the sounds of several explosions were heard coming from the Ramta vicinity in the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

At 1010 hours sounds of explosions were heard coming from the Ramta locality in the Shab`a farmlands.

Between 1030 and 1040 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Bint Jubayl area at very high altitudes.

At 1200 hours Israeli enemy forces opened fire from their outpost at Ruwaysat Ramta on the Shaluh locality in an outlying area of Kafr Shuba. This was followed by an artillery bombardment of the liberated territories in an outlying area of Kafr Shuba from the Ruwaysat al-Summaqah outpost.

At 1205 hours the sounds of an explosion and of bursts of automatic-weapons fire were heard coming from Ramsa hill in the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

At 1220 hours the sounds of five explosions and of bursts of intermittent medium-weapons fire were heard coming from the vicinity of the Israeli outpost at Ramsa.

At 1230 hours two mortar rounds fired from the occupied Israeli outposts at Summaqah and Ruwaysat al-Alam in an outlying area of Kafr Shuba impacted in the Riba` al-Tibn locality and in the area of the two liberated localities that are both known as Adhra.

Between 1205 and 1215 hours Israeli forces fired two direct-fire rounds and directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at Mazra`at Bastara in the liberated territories from their outpost at Ramta hill (in the occupied Shab`a farmlands).

Between 1625 and 1635 hours Israeli forces at an outpost in the occupied Shab`a farmlands fired several 120-mm mortar rounds and directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at areas around their Ramta hill and Summaqah hill outposts in the same area.

A patrol by personnel of the Indian contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) came under fire from the occupied Israeli outposts at Summaqah and Ramta while they were investigating the damage caused by the Israeli bombardment of the Shanuh locality in an outlying area of Mazra`at Hilta in Hasbayya district on 17 January.

19 January 2001

At intervals between 0835 and 1200 hours Israeli forces strafed areas around their outposts at Ramta hill, Ruwaysat al-Alam and Summaqah (in the occupied Shab`a farmlands) with medium-weapons fire.

21 January 2001

At 1635 hours the sounds of two unexplained explosions were heard coming from the Abbasiyah-Mazra`at Fashkul road in the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

Between 1640 and 1715 hours two Israeli helicopters flew over the aforesaid road.

Between 1900 and 1930 hours two Israeli helicopters flew over the Israeli forces position at Summaqah hill in the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

Between 2030 and 2050 hours the same forces launched several illumination flares over the Birkat Ba`sa’il vicinity in the occupied territories.

At intervals between 2030 and 2230 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the vicinity of the Israeli forces’ outposts at Ramta, Ruwaysat al-Alam, Bastara, Tall al-Abbad and Misgav Am before leaving in the direction of the occupied territories.

22 January 2001

At 1035 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Shab`a farmlands.

At 1100 hours the sounds of four large explosions were heard coming from the vicinity of the Fashkul site south of Majidiyah near the approach to Mughr Shab`a at the foot of Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Shaykh).

Between 1100 and 1445 hours Israeli forces blasted the rocks along the road leading to their outpost at Mazra`at Fashkul in the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

Between 1135 and 1445 hours Israeli forces at the Ramta hill outpost fired three 120-mm mortar rounds and directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at Mazra`at Shanuh in the occupied Shab`a farmlands and at areas around the outpost itself.

At intervals between 1015 and 1420 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Hasbayya, Tibnin and Naqurah areas and the occupied Shab`a farmlands at very high altitudes, breaking the sound barrier over the Naqurah area.

Between 1815 and 1820 hours Israeli forces at the Mazra`at Fashkul outpost in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at surrounding areas.

Between 1940 and 1955 hours an Israeli helicopter flew over Mazra`at Fashkul in the Shab`a farmlands.

Between 2040 and 2100 hours Israeli forces in the occupied territories launched several illumination flares over the same areas opposite the towns of Rumays and Yarun and two Israeli helicopters flew over the territories indicated opposite the towns of Aytrun and Blida.

Between 2115 and 2155 hours two Israeli helicopters flew over the outpost at Ramta hill in the Shab`a farmlands.

At 2230 hours Israeli forces at one of the outposts in the occupied Shab`a farmlands launched an illumination flare over the Ras outpost in the same area.

24 January 2001

From 0700 hours movement of trucks and other Israeli military vehicles was reported at the Summaqah site in an outlying area of Kafr Shuba in Hasbayya district.

At 1010 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South at very high altitudes.

Between 1000 and 1045 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South and Mount Lebanon at very high altitudes.

25 January 2001

At 1730 hours the sound of an explosion was heard coming from Shu`ayrah hill in an outlying area of Mari in Hasbayya district near the position of the Indian contingent of UNIFIL.

Between 2245 and 2255 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Western Bekaa at very high altitudes.

26 January 2001

Between 1115 and 1200 hours Israeli forces at the Ramta hill, Ruwaysat al-Alam and Summaqah outposts in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at surrounding areas.

Between 1800 and 1845 hours Israeli forces at the Ramta hill and Mazra`at Fashkul outposts in the occupied Shab`a farmlands fired several 120-mm mortar rounds and direct-fire rounds and directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at surrounding areas and at Mazra`at Bastara. Two Israeli helicopters also flew over the Shab`a farmlands and directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at areas around the two outposts.

27 January 2001

At 1245 hours movement by Israeli tanks was reported at Mazra`at Ramta, one of the occupied Shab`a farmlands in Hasbayya district.

At 1540 hours Israeli forces strafed the area around their outpost at Ramta hill (in the occupied Shab`a farmlands) with medium-weapons fire.

Israeli forces at the Ramta hill and Mazra`at Fashkul outposts in the occupied Shab`a farmlands having fired several mortar rounds and direct-fire rounds and having directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at surrounding areas, it transpired that one Muhammad Habib Faqih (born in 1970, mother’s name Fatimah, and a native and resident of Burj al-Shamali) was wounded in the left foot by shrapnel and was taken away by ambulance on the same day. In the bombardment of Mazra`at Bastarah two members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine were also killed.

28 January 2001

Between 0950 and 1025 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the occupied Shab`a farmlands at very high altitude.

At intervals between 1000 and 1200 hours Israeli warplanes overflew all parts of Lebanon at very high altitudes, breaking the sound barrier.

At 1210 hours an Israeli gunboat off Ra’s al-Naqurah outside Lebanese territorial waters fired several bursts of medium-machine-gun fire in all directions.

Between 1330 and 1415 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South and the Shuf at various altitudes and were engaged by the Army’s ground-based anti-aircraft units.

At 1835 hours an Israeli gunboat outside Lebanese territorial waters off Ra’s al-Naqurah launched two illumination flares.

At 2240 hours an Israeli gunboat outside Lebanese territorial waters off Ra’s al-Naqurah fired two projectiles of unknown type and unknown calibre and directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

29 January 2001

Between 0800 and 1300 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South at very high altitudes and reached as far as the North.

Between 1330 and 1345 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Nabatiyah area at very high altitudes.

Between 1640 and 1700 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the occupied Shab`a farmlands. Two Israeli helicopters also flew over the two outposts of the Israeli enemy at Ramta hill and Mazra`at Fashkul in the same area before leaving in the direction of the occupied territories.

Between 2105 and 2125 hours two Israeli helicopters flew over the Israeli enemy’s outpost at Ruwaysat al-Alam in the occupied Shab`a farmlands before leaving in the direction of the occupied territories.

30 January 2001

At 0740 hours the sound of a large explosion was heard coming from the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

At 0910 hours Israeli forces proceeded to blast the rocks along the road between their two outposts at Mazra`at Fashkul and Ramta in the occupied Shab`a farmlands. Israeli bulldozers are engaged in earthmoving work along that road.

Between 1030 and 1345 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the occupied Shab`a farmlands and the Nabatiyah area at very high altitudes, breaking the sound barrier. An Israeli reconnaissance aircraft also overflew the Shab`a farmlands and the Tyre, Nabatiyah and Jazzin areas at very high altitude.

Between 1300 and 1400 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Bekaa area as far as Ba`labakk at very high altitude.

Between 1800 and 1900 hours Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel boundary opposite Yarin opened fire with medium machine guns.

Between 1900 and 2000 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the Israeli forces’ outposts at Abbad, Ramta and Abbasiyah, the occupied Shab`a farmlands and an offshore area in Israeli territorial waters near Ra’s al-Naqurah.

Between 2205 and 2245 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the occupied Shab`a farmlands and the Marj Uyun area at very high altitudes.

Between 2250 and 2325 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the Shab`a farmlands and an offshore area in Israeli territorial waters near Ra’s al-Naqurah.

31 January 2001

Between 1000 and 1145 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South and Mount Lebanon at very high altitudes.

Between 1500 and 1645 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

At 1620 hours the same helicopters fired two air-to-surface missiles that impacted in an outlying area of Shab`a (in the liberated territories), strafed the surrounding area with medium-weapons fire and released a number of heat balloons.

Detonation of landmines

13 January 2001

At 1600 hours Husayn Hasan Hammud, a 21-year-old Lebanese, was brought to the Nabatiyah government hospital after being wounded in the arm when an unidentified object exploded in his right hand at the former Suwayda outpost.

17 January 2001

At 1600 hours Ali Ra’uf Ayyub, a 19-year-old Lebanese, was brought to the Marj Uyun government hospital after being wounded in various parts of the body when an unidentified object exploded while he was on a hunting trip at Hula near Abbad.

18 January 2001

At 1400 hours, Muwaffaq Nayif Mahdi, a 27-year-old Lebanese, was tending five head of cattle in the vicinity of an outpost formerly occupied by Israeli enemy forces in the Bayt Yahun area when he lost control of them and they entered a minefield. Two landmines exploded, killing two of the animals and injuring the others.

Like the previous Israeli violations of which it represents a continuation, this latest series is in flagrant violation of Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and of Lebanon’s sovereignty and poses a threat to 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 40, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Sélim Tadmoury

Ambassador

Permanent Representative