Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 25 November 1988 from the Permanent Representative of

Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government and further to the previous letters of complaint concerning Israeli air attacks on Lebanese territory, the most recent being that dated 22 November 1988, I have the honour to inform you of the following:

At 1400 hours (local time) on Friday, 25 November 1988, Israeli aircraft raided the north-eastern heights overlooking the town of Sidon in southern Lebanon.  For fifteen minutes the aircraft bombarded buildings and houses with rockets and guided missiles and destroyed them.  As a result of the bombardment a number of people were killed or wounded; a full count has not yet been made.  Initial reports state that at least 15 people, including three in a critical condition and three children aged between 3 and 10 years, have been hospitalized.

The Lebanese Government most vehemently condemns these repeated brutal Israeli attacks on Lebanese towns and villages, and Israeli cowardice is evidenced by the reliance on random aerial bombardment aimed at causing the greatest possible number of human and material losses among civilians.  It is regrettable that the States capable of exerting pressure on Israel have so far not seen fit to exert such pressure but have resorted to absolute silence or to timid or implicit condemnation.

The Lebanese Government draws attention to the fact that since the beginning of 1988 the air raids on Sidon and its outskirts have totalled 15 and the air raids on Lebanese territory 28, resulting in the death of more than 80 people and the wounding of more than 200.

The Lebanese Government places the international community square before its responsibilities and holds Israel fully liable.  The Government also reserves the right to call for the convening of the Security Council at a time specified by it.

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.

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