Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 12 November 1998 from the Permanent

Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations 

addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government and further to our earlier letters concerning Israel's attacks on southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa and the arbitrary practices against the civilian inhabitants in which it engages on a daily basis, I have the honour to notify you of the series of such incidents that took place in October 1998.

1 October 1998

At 0300 hours the South Lebanon Army strafed the area around its position at Burj hill with medium-weapons fire.

Between 0315 and 0530 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions, and another Israeli gunboat was observed off Sarafand before leaving in the direction of the open sea.

Between 0650 and 0655 hours Israeli forces fired four 155-mm artillery shells which fell at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

Beginning at 0700 hours the South Lebanon Army began to put into effect its decision of 9 September 1998 concerning the transit permit requirement for the people of Jazzin and prevented a number of civilians, and military personnel of the internal security forces, the public security forces and the customs who had not obtained transit permits, from crossing to the liberated areas at the Batir and Kfar Falus crossing points.

Between 0800 and 0850 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew at high altitude over the areas of East Sidon and Iqlim al-Tuffah.

Between 0925 and 0945 hours the Israeli forces fired five 155-mm artillery shells, which fell in outlying areas of Haddathah, from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

At 1850 hours Israeli forces fired two 120-mm mortar shells from their position at Ksarat al-Urush which fell on Mazra'at Uqmata.

At 2215 hours the South Lebanon Army fired a flare over Shawmariyah hill.

2 October 1998

Between midnight and 0045 hours the South Lebanon Army fired several 155-mm artillery shells, which fell on the Yuqmur al-Shahif plain outside Mayfdun, from its position at Zafatah.  The Israeli forces and the South Lebanon Army also strafed the area around their positions at Qal'at al-Shaqif (Château Beaufort) and on Dabshah and Ali al-Tahir hills with medium-weapons fire and fired several flares over those hills.

Between 0500 and 0600 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several intermittent bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

At 0635 hours Israeli forces and the South Lebanon Army strafed the areas around their positions on Dabshah and Ali al-Tahir hills with medium-weapons fire.

Between 0800 and 0820 hours Israeli forces fired five 155-mm artillery shells, which fell in outlying areas of Haddatha, from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

At 0915 hours the South Lebanon Army fired two 120-mm mortar shells at Mazra'at Marus (east of Sfariyah) from its position on Rum hill, and the outlying areas of Jun (Shuf province) came under an Israeli artillery bombardment.

At 0945 hours the South Lebanon Army fired an 81-mm mortar shell, which fell on the outskirts of Mashnaqah (Wadi Bisri district), from its position on Mashnaqah hill.  

Between 1125 and 1230 hours Israeli aircraft overflew areas of the Bekaa, and Mount Lebanon in the North, and the South, at high altitude, breaking the sound barrier.

Between 1210 and 1315 hours the South Lebanon Army and Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 81- and 120-mm mortar shells, and several bursts of medium-weapons fire in the direction of Jabal al-Rafi', along the Tasah Spring and the areas around Dabshah hill and Mazra'at Uqmata from their positions at Zafatah, Ksarat al-Urush, Sujud and Dabshah.

Between 1330 and 1400 hours the South Lebanon army fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm mortar shells, which fell on Jabal al-Rafi', from its position at Zafatah.

At 1400 hours the Israeli forces abducted Mahmud Hasan Ward (28 years) and his wife Zahr Muhammed Nur (21 years) and took them out of the border strip area over the Zumriya crossing.

At 1700 hours elements of the South Lebanon Army fired fourteen 81-mm mortar shells, which fell in the outlying areas of Bra'shit, from their position on Bil'uwayn hill.

At 1745 hours Israeli forces and the South Lebanon Army fired several 155-mm shells and 81-mm mortar shells and several bursts of medium-weapons fire in the direction of the outlying areas of Haddatha, Bra'shit and Jabal al Za'tar (outlying areas of Tibnin) from their positions in Mays al-Jabal and on Bil'uwayn hill.

Between 1940 and 2150 hours Israeli forces and the South Lebanon Army fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 81- and 120-mm mortar shells and several bursts of medium-weapons fire from their positions at Mays al-Jabal, Ksarat al-Urush and on the Dabshah, Sujud and Rum hills, in the direction of Wadi al-Qaysiyah, along the Tasah Spring, the outskirts of Luwayzah and the area around those hills, and three flares over the area of the Israeli position on Dabshah hill.

At 2150 hours elements of the South Lebanon Army position on Sujud hill and of the Israeli forces at Ksarat al-Urush fired several 81- and 120-mm mortar shells which fell on Mazra'at Uqmata and in the area of Sujud hill.

3 October 1998

Between 0100 and 0600 hours Israeli forces and the South Lebanon Army intermittently fired several 81-mm mortar shells, two directly targeted shells and several bursts of medium-weapons fire in the direction of Majdal Zun, Bra'shit and the area of Dabshah hill, from their position on Dahmayn, Bil'uwayn and Dabshah hills.

Between 0135 and 0645 hours Israeli forces fired three 155-mm artillery shells and four 120-mm mortar shells, which fell on the outskirts of Luwayzah and Wadi al-Qaysiyah, from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Ksarat al-Urush.

At 1410 hours Israeli forces fired several 120-mm mortar shells, which fell on outlying areas of Jba' and Jabal Sujud, from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 1400 and 1450 hours Israeli forces fired 10 120-mm mortar shells in the direction of Mashgharah to the south, and eight 120-mm mortar shells in the direction of outlying areas of Ayn al-Tinah to the east, from their position at Rayhan.

Between 1420 and 1440 hours Israeli warplanes overflew areas of the South, the Bekaa and the North at high altitude, breaking the sound barrier.

At 1525 hours Israeli forces fired five 155-mm artillery shells in the direction of Jabal Bir al-Zahr from their base at Abu Qamhah; from their position on Ahmadiyah hill they also fired two 120-mm mortar shells in the direction of Tumat Niha.

Between 1510 and 1605 hours Israeli forces fired a number of 120-mm mortar shells which fell in the area around Sujud hill from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 1730 and 1740 hours Israeli forces fired four 155-mm artillery shells, which fell in outlying areas of Zibqin and Jibal al-Butm, from their position at Tall Ya'qub.

At 2100 hours outlying areas of Arabsalim, Ayn Bu Siwar, Jba', Tilal Mita and Jabal Safi came under an Israeli artillery bombardment.

Between 2045 and 2130 hours Israeli forces fired several directly targeted shells in the direction of Jabal Sujud and Jabal al-Rafi', from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

4 October 1998

Between 0500 and 0645 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several intermittent bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

Between 1045 and 1200 hours Israeli warplanes flew at intervals over the areas of Tibnin and Nabatiyah at high altitude.

Between 1145 and 1230 hours Israeli forces and the South Lebanon Army strafed the area around their positions on the Swayda, Dabshah and Ali al-Tahir hills with medium-weapons fire.

Between 1425 and 1700 hours outlying areas of Ayn al-Tinah and the uplands surrounding Niha hill came under an Israeli artillery bombardment.

At 1930 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells which fell on Wadi al-Qaysiyah, from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

Between 2010 and 2200 hours Israeli forces strafed the area surrounding their positions at Dabshah and Qal'at al-Shaqif (Château Beaufort) with medium-weapons fire.

At 2000 hours outlying areas of Bra'shit, Tibnin, Majdal Silm, Tulin and Sawwanat al-Jumjumah came under an Israeli artillery bombardment.

Between 2250 and 2330 hours Israeli forces fired several 120-mm mortar shells, which fell in outlying areas of Jabal Sujud and Jabal al-Rafi', from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

5 October 1998

Between 0300 and 0600 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several intermittent bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

Between 0500 and 0525 hours Israeli forces and the South Lebanon Army strafed the area surrounding their positions on Dabshah, Tahrah and Swayda hills and Israeli forces fired several 60-mm mortar shells, which fell in the area around Dabshah hill from their base on the hill.

Between 1230 and 1245 hours the South Lebanon Army fired several directly targeted shells which fell in the area of Tumat Niha, to the west of Batirah, from its position at Tanassut hill (near Ayn al-Tufrah, Jazzin).

Between 1250 and 1300 hours Israeli forces fired six 155-mm artillery shells from their positions inside the occupied strip which fell on the Ayn al-Tinah hills damaging a high-tension cable near an army position at Tumat Niha; one of them also hit an army position, slightly wounding Private First Class Diyab al-Samily.

At 1425 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells, which fell on outlying parts of Majdal Zun and Mansuri, from their position at Tall Ya'qub.

At the Hamra crossing, controlled by the South Lebanon Army, agents Akram Alayan and Simun Farah prevented civilians coming from the occupied strip from taking out oil and olives to the liberated areas.

At 1755 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells, which fell in outlying areas of Yatar, Jibal al-Butm and Zibqin, from their position at Ya'qub hill.

At 1820 hours and at 1840 hours Israeli forces fired two 120-mm mortar shells, which fell on Jabal Sujud, from their position at Bi'r Kilab.

Between 1835 and 1910 hours Israeli forces and the South Lebanon Army fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm mortar shells, which fell in outlying areas of Frun, Ghanduriyah, Zibqin, Majdal Zun, Mansuri, Wadi al-Hujayr and Suluqy, from their positions at Ya'qub hill, Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal, Sil'a and Qasir.

Between 1240 and 1300 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the area east of Sidon at high altitude.

Between 1440 and 1715 hours the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells and a directly targeted artillery shell, from its position on Razlan hill, at the area around Sujud hill.

At 1815 hours the client militia fired an 81-mm mortar shell, from its position on Razlan hill, at the area around Sujud hill.

Between 1945 and 2015 hours Israeli war planes overflew the South and the area of Shuf at high altitude.

Between 2005 and 2045 hours Israeli helicopters flew over the sea off the coast between the Qalilah plain and Tyre.  

7 October 1998

Between 1225 and 1330 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the area of Nabatiyah at high altitude.

At 1605 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at the area around Dabshah and Tahrah hills from its position at Zafatah.

Between 1815 and 2140 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 81-mm mortar shells in the direction of the Ali Tahir woodland, the Yuhmur al-Shaqif plain and outlying areas of Mayfdun from their positions at Sharifah and Ali al-Tahir.

8 October 1998

At 0130 hours Israeli forces fired three flares over Jabal Abu Rashid from their positions inside the liberated strip.

Between 0830 and 1400 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the area of Sidon and to the east.

At 1230 hours the client militia fired an 81-mm mortar shell and several bursts of medium-weapons fire in the direction of the Mu'aytah woodland from its position on Rum hill.  

Between 2200 and 2355 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the South at high altitude.

9 October 1998

At 1200 hours Israeli forces fired five 120-mm mortar shells towards the course of the Litani river from their position on Ahmadiya hill.

Between 1345 and 1515 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 81- and 120-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Zibqin, Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and Jabal al-Rafi' from their positions at Mays al-Jabal, Dabshah hill, Ya'qub hill and Zafatah.

Between 1645 and 1650 hours Israeli forces fired eight 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Suluqi and Hujayr from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

At 2210 hours Israeli helicopters flew over the sea off Sarafand.

10 October 1998

Between 1840 and 1905 hours Israeli forces fired seven 120-mm mortar shells at Jabal Jubur from their position on Jabal al-Rayhan.

Between 1715 and 1940 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120- and 81-mm mortar shells at the Ali al-Tahir woodland and the area around the disused army barracks at Nabatiyah from their positions on Dabshah and Razlan hills.

Between 2030 and 2045 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired four 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Qal'at al-Shaqif (Château Beaufort) and on Tahrah hill.

At 2100 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the area of Nabatiyah at high altitude.

11 October 1998

Between 0600 and 0615 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

At 0645 hours Israeli forces fired four 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

Between 1045 and 1130 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South, the Western Bekaa, the North and Mount Lebanon.

Between 1500 and 1630 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South at high altitude dropping heat flares over Nabatiyah.

The South Lebanon Army's crossing at Bayt Yahun did not open in either direction for vehicles or pedestrians.

12 October 1998

At 1205 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several directly targeted shells and 120-mm mortar shells in the direction of Mlita hill, Jabal al-Rafi', along the Tasah Spring and the area around the outskirts of Sujud from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush, Razlan hill and Jabal Sujud.

Between 1430 and 1500 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several directly targeted shells and 120-mm mortar shells along the Tasah Spring and the area around Sujud hill from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and on Razlan hill.

Between 1625 and 2140 hours Israeli forces fired several 120-mm mortar shells and directly targeted shells at Jabal al-Rafi' and the area around Sujud hill from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 2100 and 2115 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

13 October 1998

At 1025 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the North, the Bekaa and the South at high altitude.

Between 1700 and 1730 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Zibqin and Majdal Zun from their position at Tall Ya'qub.

Between 1815 and 2135 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yuhmar al-Shaqif and Qa'qa'iyat al-Jisr from their positions at Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 1930 and 2000 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the area of Nabatiyah at high altitude.

14 October 1998

At 1210 hours the client militia fired five 81-mm mortar shells at the Ru'us al-Afranj district from its position on Anan hill.

Between 1540 and 1710 hours Israeli forces fired several 120-mm mortar shells at Mazra'at Aqmata and along the Tasah Spring from their position at Bi'r Kilab.

Between 1850 and 2000 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South at high altitude.

Between 2000 and 2145 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells at the area around Sujud and Mlita hills from their positions at Bi'r Kilab and on Sujud and Rum hills.

15 October 1998

Between 1230 and 1635 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the areas of Tyre, Nabatiyah and Iqlim al-Tuffah at high altitude.

Between 1745 and 2045 hours Israeli forces fired 21 15-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Tibnin, Burj Qallawi, Ghanduriyah and Wadi al-Qaysiyah from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

At 2100 hours Israeli forces fired three 120-mm mortar shells in the direction of Jabbur pool from their position on Ahmadiyah hill.

At 2330 hours Israeli forces fired seven flares above the Zimriya crossing from inside the occupied strip.

16 October 1998

At 0630 hours Israeli forces fired three 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Tibnin from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

For unknown reasons the client militia did not open the Zimriya crossing in either direction.

At 1020 hours Israeli forces fired four 15-mm artillery shells at Wadi al-Qaysariyah from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

Between 1705 and 2120 hours the client militia strafed the area around the Zimriya position on the Rum and Ali al-Tahir hills with medium-weapons fire.

17 October 1998

Between 1000 and 1300 hours Israeli forces fired three directly-targeted shells and several bursts of medium-weapons fire towards the outskirts of Jabal Suyud from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and on Dabshah hill.

At 1725 hours the client militia fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in the direction of the outskirts of Maymas from its position on Zaghlah hill.

At 1845 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells in the direction of Mazra'at Aqmata and along the Tasah Spring from their position at Ksarat al-Urush.

At 2220 hours the client militia fired 30 flares over Ayn Qanya hill from its position on Zaghlah hill.

18 October 1998

At 1030 hours the client militia fired several 81-mm mortar shells at the area of Anan hill from its positions on Anan and Rum hills.

At 1900 hours an Israeli gunboat off Mansuri fired several flares above the coast.

Between 1955 and 2010 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired four directly targeted shells, four 120-mm mortar shells and four 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar, Rshaf and Majdal Zun from their positions at Zahr al-Jamal and Tall Ya'qub.

Between 2000 and 2100 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the areas of Nabatiya, Iqlim al-Tuffah and Sabah Abu Rashid at high altitude.

19 October 1998

Between 0840 and 1300 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the areas of Sidon and Nabatiya at high altitude.

Between 1625 and 1635 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm artillery shells at the outlying areas of Yuhmur al-Shaqif, Mazra'at al-Hamra and the course of the Litani river from their position at Zafatah.

Between 2100 and 2110 hours Israeli forces fired 10 flares above the course of the Litani river from their position on Ahmadiyah hill.

Between 2305 and 2320 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at the Yuhmur al-Shaqif plain and the course of the Litani river from its position at Zafatah.

20 October 1998

Between 1445 and 1505 hours Israeli forces fired nine 120-mm shells at the course of the Litani river from their position on Ahmadiyah hill.

At 1525 hours Israeli forces fired four 120-mm shells in the direction of Iqlim al-Tuffah.

At 1940 hours Israeli forces fired two flares above the area around Ahmadiya hill from their position on the same hill.

Between 2055 and 2140 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells in the direction of the outskirts of Sujud hill from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and on Dabshah and Ali al-Tahir hills.

Between 2110 and 2330 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the sea off the coast between Tyre and Sarafand.

21 October 1998

At 1330 hours the client militia strafed the area around its position on Ali al-Tahir hill with medium-weapons fire.

Between 1615 and 1630 hours an Israeli gunboat off the coast at Bayyadah fired several bursts of medium-weapons fire in all directions.

Between 1900 and 1940 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at the outskirts of Yahmur, Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, Zawtar al-Gharbiyah and Qa'qa'iyat al-Jisr from its position at Zafatah.

At 2100 hours the client militia fired several bursts in the direction of the area around the Zimriya crossing from its position on Zimriya hill.

At 2200 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired nine artillery shells at outlying areas of Bra'shit from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

22 October 1998

Between 1340 and 1355 hours Israeli forces fired seven 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Bra'shit and Tibnin from their position at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal.

At 1750 hours Israeli forces fired seven 155-mm shells at outlying areas of Sharifah from their position at Sharifah.

At 1915 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the Jarmak plain.

At 1950 and 2145 hours the client militia fired several bursts at Yuhmur al-Shaqif and Mayfdun from its position on Rum hill and at Zafatah.

23 October 1998

Between 1125 and 1150 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired three 155-mm artillery shells and three 120-mm mortar shells in the direction of outlying areas of Zibqin, Majdal Zun and Mansuri from their positions at Tall Ya'qub and Yarin and on Rum hill.

Between 1400 and 1830 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells in the direction of Dabshah and Rum hills from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and on Dabshah and Rum hills.

Between 1630 and 1848 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired seven 120-mm mortar shells and several bursts of medium-weapons fire in the direction of the outskirts of Sujud hill and Mu'aytah woodland from their positions at Bi'r Kilab and on Rum hill.

Between 1905 and 1915 hours an Israeli gunboat off the coast of the Qalilah plain fired several bursts in all directions.

24 October 1998

Between 0005 and 0745 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 81-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Tulin, Arabsalim, Jabal al-Rafi' and the area around Bal'awayn and Rum hills from their positions at Zafatah, on Bal'awayn hill, and at Bi'r Kilab and Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 1300 and 1400 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Nabatiya area at high altitude.

Between 1635 and 1735 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm mortar shells in the direction of the outlying areas of Bra'shit, Mansuri, Majdal Zun, Zibqin, Majdal al-Butm, Yatar and Bayt Yahun from their bases on Ya'qub hill and Bal'awayn hill.

Between 1800 and 2100 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several artillery shells in the direction of outlying areas of Arabsalim and Kafr Rumman from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal, Zafatah and Qal'at al-Shaqif (Château Beaufort).

25 October 1998

Between 0940 and 1335 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South and the Western Bekaa at medium altitude.

Between 1430 and 1535 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells and several directly targeted shells at outlying areas of Haddatha and Kafra from their positions at Jabal Blat and Bayt Lif.

At 1840 hours the client militia fired several bursts in the direction of Wadi Abu Dajjajah from its position at Shwayya.

Between 1440 and 2210 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Ghanduriyah and Burj Qalaway and the course of the Zahrani river from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal, Zafatah and Shkif al-Naml.

At 2100 hours the client militia fired several artillery shells in the direction of Ayn Majdalayn from its position at Tahrah.

26 October 1998

At 0900 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yuhmur and Mayfdun from its positions at Zafatah and Shihin.

Between 1100 and 1935 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Majdal Silm from their positions at Bawwabat Mays al-Jabal and Qal'at Bal'uwayl.

At 1230 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the area of Nabatiya at high altitude.

Between 1620 and 1635 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells and 120-mm mortar shells at outlying areas of Yuhmur from their positions at Zafatah and Qal'at al-Shaqif (Château Beaufort).

27 October 1998

Between 1200 and 1600 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the areas of Sidon, Tyre and Zimriya hill at high altitudes.

At 1545 hours Israeli forces fired thirteen 120-mm mortar shells at the course of the Litani river from their position on Ahmadiya hill.

At 1645 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the area of the Western Bekaa at high altitude.

At 1705 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at the northern part of Mazra'at al-Hamra and outlying areas of Mayfdun and Qa'qa'iyat al-Jisr from its position at Zafatah.

28 October 1998

Between 1215 and 1320 hours the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at Mazra'at al-Hamra and outlying areas of Mayfdun, Jabal al-Rafi' and Wadi Habbush from its position at Zafatah.

At 1410 hours two Israeli helicopters overflew the course of the Litani river.

Between 1555 and 1615 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm mortar shells at Jabal Safi and the outskirts of Mlikh from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and Bi'r Kilab.

Between 1605 and 1635 hours Israeli forces fired eleven 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Jibal al-Butm and Yatar from their position on Ya'kub hill and six 81-mm mortar shells which fell on the area around Jabal Blat.

Between 1925 and 2130 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several artillery shells in the direction of the Tasa Spring and Wadi Bisri from their positions at Ksarat al-Urush and Bi'r Kilab and on the Dabshah, Rum and Burj hills.

29 October 1998

Between 0425 and 0605 hours Israeli forces and client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Haddatha and Yatar from their positions on Ya'qub hill, Shaqif al-Naml, on Rum hill and at Mashnaqah.

Between 1600 and 1720 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells in the direction of outlying areas of Arabsalim, Majdal Zun, Yatar, Jabal al-Rafi' and Suwayda hill from their positions on Ya'qub hill and at Zafatah.

Between 2015 and 2205 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 120-mm artillery shells in the direction of Jabal al-Rafi', Jabal Sujud, outlying areas of Yuhmur and the disused army barracks at Nabatiyah from their positions at Zafatah and Bi'r Kilab and on Dabshah hill.

30 October 1998

Between 0735 and 0800 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the area of Nabatiyah at high altitude.

Between 1430 and 1650 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells in the direction of Wadi al Qaysiyah and Wadi Habbush from their positions at Zafatah, Mays al Jabal and Ksarat al-Urush, and on Ruzlan hill.

Between 2040 and 2105 hours the client militia fired five directly targeted shells in the direction of Jabal Bir al-Zahr from its position on Zwaya hill.

At 2300 hours Israeli forces fired 17 155-mm shells at the course of the Litani river and the western Bekaa from their position at Abu Qamhah.

31 October 1998

At 0810 hours Israeli forces fired several 155-mm and 120-mm artillery shells at Jabal al-Rafi' and Jabal Sujud from their positions at Sharifah and Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 1040 and 1100 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South – the Bekaa and Mount Lebanon – and the North at high altitude.

Between 1630 and 1715 hours Israeli forces and the client militia fired several 155-mm artillery shells at the outskirts of Jabal Sujud from their positions at Zafatah and Ksarat al-Urush.

Between 1840 and 1905 hours Israeli forces fired four 155-mm artillery shells at outlying areas of Yatar from their position on Ya'qub hill.

Between 2000 and 2010 hours Israeli forces fired bursts of medium-weapons fire in the direction of Jabal Al-Khalwat from their position at Mawqi' Ayn Qana.

The Lebanese Government strongly condemns the continued Israeli occupation and the fresh attacks and the arbitrary practices against the Lebanese civilian population that have caused further injuries and serious damage to property.

Like previous attacks, this new series is in flagrant violation of the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon and constitutes a breach of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and of international law and basic human rights.

I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly at its fifty-third session, under agenda item 40, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Samir MOUBARAK     

Ambassador       

Permanent Representative

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