Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 18 September 1989 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the

Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to

the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government and further to our previous letters concerning the many Israeli acts of aggression against Lebanese territory, I regret to inform you that on the evening of Thursday, 14 September, three Israeli helicopter gunships attacked Ein Elhelwe camp at Sidon, firing three incendiary missiles at a building housing humanitarian and social services, which was destroyed by the resulting fire.  During that time, Israeli military aircraft covered the gunships, while Israeli warships cruised off the coast.

On the same day, an Israeli armoured division of 35 vehicles, including American tanks and M-113 armoured vans carrying about 330 men, moved through the areas where the militias are positioned, to the north of the municipalities of Marjoyown and Hasbaya, continually intensifying their motorized patrols in the villages of Al-Arqoub and those near to the international border.  The Israeli forces raided a number of homes at Kfarchouba, Hebbariye and Kfarhamam.  They also combed the Majidie, Merri, Helta and Tallet Alchairi sectors.  On Thursday morning, Israeli tanks fired on the western Bekaa region and on the villages of Zawtar Gharbieh and Zawtar Charkieh in the district of Nabatyeh.

The Lebanese Government denounces these fresh Israeli attacks, which constitute a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and an act of aggression against its citizens and its territory.  It alerts the international community to the danger represented by these attacks, which have been perpetrated without regard for international principles, law or practice.

I should be grateful if you would have the text of this letter circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under item 37 of the provisional agenda, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Chawki CHOUERI

Ambassador

Charge d'affaires a.i.

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