Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 26 October 1988 from the Permanent Representative of

Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government, and further to our letters of complaint concerning Israeli air raids on Lebanese territory, the most recent being that dated 24 October 1988 (document A/43/746-S/20240), I have the honour to inform you of the following:

For the third time in four days, Israel has continued its air raids on Lebanese territory.  At 11 a.m. (local Lebanese time) on Wednesday, 26 October 1988, four Israeli military aircraft carried out a raid on the eastern outskirts of Sidon, to be precise, on Mieh Mieh camp, and fired 12 high-explosive rockets in the main square of the camp, causing tremendous damage to property and many human casualties.  The count so far is as follows:

The rescue teams are still working to remove the rubble and seek out those who are buried beneath it, for cries of help are still being heard up to the time of writing.

The Lebanese Government vehemently condemns the Israeli attacks against Lebanese territory and stressed that Israel's policy of aggression has never for a day lacked for evidence.  Every day Israel gives fresh proof of this policy and of its resolve to violate the Charter of the United Nations and international laws, agreements and resolutions and to flout them and world public opinion.

The intensification of the air raids, the expansion of the attack area deep into Lebanese territory, the dispatch of 1,500 troops from inside Israel, backed by tanks and artillery and their mobilization the day before yesterday in conjunction with the Israeli forces already present in Lebanese territory in the so-called "security zone" all confirm the accuracy of the warning contained in our last letter of complaint that the policy of Israeli leaders at the present time is aimed at exploiting the attacks and other actions of their armed forces against peaceful Lebanese towns and villages and Palestinian camps to win the votes of the Israeli electors and falls, in any event, within the framework of Israel's chronic policy of aggression, which is espoused by its current leaders.

The Lebanese Government, while reserving its right to call for a meeting of the Security Council at such time as it deems appropriate, emphasizes its deep regret at the total silence that these attacks have met with from the United Nations and the Security Council, the guardians of the United Nations Charter entrusted with the task of maintaining international peace and security and safeguarding the sovereignty, independence and inviolability of the territory, air space and territorial waters of Member States.

I request you to have this letter circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 40, and of the Security Council.