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

1. The  Chief of Staff of UNTSO,  Major-General E. A. Erskine, has submitted the following special report concerning certain developments  in the Israel-Lebanon sector from 5 November to 9 November 1977:

(a) Violations of the general cease-fire that went into effect on 26 September 1977 and ended the fighting in the area of OP Khiam (AMR 2071-3025) 1/ (S/ll663/Add.45) have increased in intensity and number in southern Lebanon.  This trend began on 5 November 1977.

(b) Naqpura Outstation  (AMR 1629-2805) reported an exchange of automatic weapons  fire on 5 November between l800 and l8l0 GMT between de facto forces  in Haqoura and an Israel forces  patrol boat which had penetrated Lebanese territorial waters  and was  located 500 metres west  of the  Outstation.  The de facto forces initiated the exchange.

(c) On 6 November, between 1935 and 2l45 GMT, OP Lab (AMR 1643-2772) and the Naqoura Outstation observed Israel forces  firing 30 artillery rounds and 26 mortar rounds across the armistice demarcation line  (ADL), which impacted in and around the Moslem village of Naqoura (AMR 1629-2805).  A number of these rounds  impacted close to the UNTSO Outstation and minor damage Was caused to equipment  and buildings.  Israeli news  agencies reported that this firing was in response to rocket attacks by de  facto forces  in southern Lebanon directed at the city of Nahariya in  Israel (AMR 1585-2673) on 6 November in which two people were reported killed.

(d) On 8 November, between 1000 and 1450 GMT,  OP Hin  (AMR 1770-2790) observed Israel forces firing 120 artillery rounds which impacted in the vicinity of Marjayoun (AMR 1714-2837).  During the same time period,  OP Lab observed nine rockets fired from north-east of the OP and impacting in Hahariya in  Israel.  Additionally, between 1104 and 1200 GMT, OP Mar observed Israel forces  firing 34 artillery rounds  from AMR 2017-2920 to unknown targets located south-west  of the  OP.

(e) On 9 November, between 0535  and 0642 GMT,  OP Hin and OP Lab and the Naqoura Outstation observed an Israel forces air attack consisting of 12 Phantoms  and Mirages directed against five target areas in the vicinity of AMR 1691-2840 (about one mile north-west of the village of Chamaa), AMR 1700-2845 (about one mile north-west of the village of Majdel Zoun), AMR l664-2848 (about half a mile south-east of the village of Ras El Biyada), AMR 1675-2850 (at the eastern outskirts of El Biyada), and AMR 1710-2953 (about half a mile south of Borjech Chemali), all located south of Tyre (MR 1690-2970) Approximately 110 bombs were dropped by the aircraft.  Casualties  and destruction; were reported to be very heavy.

(f) Additionally, during the reporting period, six reconnaissance overflights by jet aircraft and five violations of the ADL occurred, all by Israel forces.  Four of the violations were on fortification constructions on the wrong side of the ADL with maximum penetration of 400 metres.  The other violations consisted of a naval patrol boat penetrating Lebanese territorial waters on 8 November (maximum penetration 4,000 metres).

(g) Internal fighting between de facto forces in southern Lebanon is also increasing with the majority of the activity centred in the vicinity of Marjayoun (AMR 2056-3074 and Yarine (AMR 1723-2789).

2. The  Secretary-General wishes  to express his  growing concern at the continuing escalation of tension and violence in the Israel-Lebanon sector. He particularly deplores the recent sequence of events including the rocket attack on Nahariya on 8 November, which regrettably caused Israeli casualties, followed by Israeli air strikes on 9 November which caused very heavy loss of life, and extensive destruction in southern Lebanon.  He reiterates his appeal to all parties to exercise restraint and to co-operate with efforts to re-establish peaceful conditions in the  area.

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1/ AMR – approximate map reference.