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

The Chief of Staff of UNTSO has submitted the following report on developments in the Israel-Lebanon sector during December 1977. 1/

1. No ground or naval activity was observed during the month, and air activity was at a low level.  UNTSO operations in Lebanon continued to be hindered by incidents with de facto forces involving vehicle hijackings, denial of freedom of movement, armed thefts, forced entry into OPs, mined roads and shooting at or into the immediate vicinity of OP relief/logistics operations.

2. Israel forces personnel continued to occupy six positions on the Lebanese side of the armistice demarcation line (ADL) near border pillars 6 (AMR 1680-2770), 2/ 11 (AMR 1709-2788), 14 (AMR 1838-2740, 18 (AMR l880-2740) 5 19 (AMR 1907-2749) and 33 (AMR 2004-2904.

3. There were 12 overflights reported during the period.  Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 3, 19, 20, 27 and 31 December (one each day), on 8 and 24 December (two each day) and on 25 December (three overflights).

k.  The Lebanese authorities submitted a complaint during the period under review alleging that Israel forces penetrated Lebanese territory in the vicinity of Chebaa (AMR 2200-3055) on 27 December and arrested four Lebanese.  The complaint could not be confirmed owing to restrictions described in paragraph 1 above.

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1/ UNTSO observers are stationed in the Israel-Lebanon sector on the Lebanese side of the armistice demarcation line, in accordance with the consensus approved by the members of the Security Council on 19 April 1972, to observe the cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon called for by the Security Council.  The present report of the Chief of Staff of UNTSO concerns essentially developments observed and reported by UNTSO observers in this context.

2/ AMR – approximate map reference.

78-00270