Mideast situation – UNTSO – Report on the status of the cease-fire

REPORT ON THE STATUS OP 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 1975.

1. Activity in the sector during the month remained at a low level except for intense ground and air activity in the eastern part of the sector on 15 June and increased ground activity in the western part of the sector on 25 June.

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 4, l6, 26 and 30 June), 18 (AMR 1880-270) (except on it June), 19 (AMR 1907-2704) and 33 (AMR 2004-2904).

3. There were 49 cases of firing across the ADL or across the line between Lebanon and Israel-occupied Syrian territory.  Three of these incidents involved exchanges of fire and three were crossing violations. They were reported as follows:

(a) OP Lab (AMR 1643-2772), south of the village of Labouna, reported artillery and mortar fire by Israel forces on 15 June.  It also reported a crossing violation by Israel forces on 9 June (maximum penetration 60 metres).

(b) OP Hin (AMR 1770-2790), east of the village of Maroushine, reported artillery fire on 19 June, mortar fire on 24 June and mortar and machine-gun fire on 25 June, all by Israel forces. It also reported two exchanges of automatic weapons and machine-gun fire between Israel forces and unidentified forces east and west of the OP on 25 June (firing initiated by unidentified forces in both instances).

(c) OP Ras (AMR 1920-2785), south-east of the village of Maroun Er Ras, reported mortar fire on 21, 22 and 23 June, mortar and machine-gun fire on 25 June, and artillery fire on 30 June, all by Israel forces.  It also reported an exchange of automatic weapons fire between Israel forces and unidentified south-west of the OP on 23 June (firing initiated by unidentified forces).

(d) OP Mar (AMR 1998-2921), south-east of the village of Markaba, reported)rocket fire by unidentified forces north-east of the OP on 15 June and mortar fire by Israel forces on 5 June.

(e) OP Khiam (AMR 2071-3025), south of the village of El Khiam, reported artillery fire by Israel forces and by unidentified forces north-east of the OP on 15 June. It also reported artillery and mortar fire on 16 June and fire on 20 June, both by Israel forces.

(f) An UNTSO mobile patrol, while located in the vicinity of Chebaa (AMR 2200-3055), reported a crossing violation by Israel forces on 2 June (maxim)  penetration 900 metres) and, while located at AMR 2117-2987, reported a crossing violation by Israel forces on 17 June (maximum penetration 25 metres).

4.  Five air attacks by Israel forces were reported on 15 June (see S/11663/Add.5).  In addition, there were 18 overflights reported during the period. Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 1 June (two overflights) and on 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 14, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26 and 27 June (one each day). Overflights by unidentified jet aircraft were reported on 7 June (two  overflights) and on 9 and 15 June (one each day); United Nations observers were i unable to identify the aircraft owing to either high altitude and hazy weather 1 conditions (7 June), cloudy conditions (9 June) or darkness (15 June).

5.  The Lebanese authorities submitted 55 complaints during the period under review as follows:

(a) Twenty-nine complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces fire had fallen on Lebanese territory.  Thirteen of these complaints were confirmed by United Nations observation, except for damage.

(b) Fifteen complaints concerned Israel forces jet aircraft overflights. Ten of these complaints were confirmed.

(c) Four complaints concerned Israel forces light aircraft overflights. One of these complaints was confirmed.

(d) Two complaints concerned Israel forces helicopter overflights, complaints were not confirmed.

(e) Three complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces naval vessels had penetrated Lebanese territorial waters on 31 May and on 13 and 18 June.  The complaints were not confirmed.

(f) In addition two complaints were submitted with requests that inquiries into them be conducted by United Nations military observers (see para. 6 below).

6.  One of the complaints referred to in paragraph 5 (f) and the relevant inquiry have been dealt with in a special report (see S/ll663/Add.5). The second complaint alleged that on 15 June between 2110 and 2230 hours GMT Israel artillery fire fell on Nabatiye (AMR 1958-3090), causing casualties and material damage. The inquiry requested by the Lebanese authorities was authorized by the Chief of Staff of UNTSO and took place on l6 June. The complaint was confirmed.

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1/ AMR – approximate map reference.