Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

LETTER DATED 21 MARCH 1980 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

OF LEBANON TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT

OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

I am under instructions from my Government to bring to the attention of the Security Council, and protest in the strongest possible terms, a series of acts of aggression which Israel has been perpetrating against south Lebanon.  We reserve our right to call for an urgent meeting of the Security Council, should the situation further deteriorate, and no measures are taken to stop the escalation.

I am enclosing a list of Israel’s most recent attacks, as of 14 March, which are continuing at the moment of writing.

We cannot fail to notice that this escalation of violence, totally unwarranted, comes at a time when intensive consultations are conducted with the United Nations and the Command of UNIFIL, to implement the resolutions of the Security Council.  Many of the acts of aggression, as seen from the enclosed list, fall within the “area of operations” of UNIFIL whose positions and men have not been spared.  Civilian objectives have been hit, inside and outside the area of operations, and have resulted in a number of casualties in the cities of Tyre, Sidon, and neighbouring villages.

Not only does Israel’s new unprovoked wave of violence imperil human lives and civilian property, in violation of international law and the United Nations Charter, but it further destabilizes the situation, challenges UNIFIL’s efforts, and defies the credibility and authority of the Security Council in a manner that may imperil international peace and security in the whole Middle East.

You are kindly requested to have this letter and the annex circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed)   Ghassan TUENI

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

Annex

LIST OF ISRAELI ACTS OF AGGRESSION BETWEEN 14 AND 21 MARCH 1980

1. 14 March: between 1900 and 2200 hours, the village of Kfar Rumman was shelled.  One person was wounded and extensive damage to property was caused.

2. 15 March: between 700 and 1100 hours, the villages of Jensnaya and Jurmog were shelled.  On the same day between 2030 and 2200 hours, the villages of Kfar Rumman and Qa’aq’iya were also hit.  In both instances there was material damage.

3. 16 March: between 1650 and 1900 hours, the villages of Habboush, Arabsalim, Nabatiyeh, Kfar Rumman, Aishiyeh and Jurmog were bombarded, during which there was extensive property damage.  And between 1850 and 1855 hours, the village of Qarya was shelled, during which one person was wounded.

4. 17 March: between 1530 and 1900 hours, the city and port of Tyre were bombarded.  Four persons were killed and eleven were wounded.  At 1750 hours, fire was aimed at Miya-wa-Miya, Ain-ed-Dilb and Qarya and caused widespread damage to property.  On the same day, there was a clash with UNIFIL troops of the Netherlands contingent at the village of Majdal Zoun, in which three of these troops were injured.

5. 18 March: between 1220 and 1400 hours, the villages of Majdal Youn, Salhieyh and Kfar Jarra were shelled, and Israeli troops kidnapped two civilians from Kfar Dounin.

6. 19 March: between 930 and 1200 hours, the villages of Jensnaya, Qarya and Kfar Hata were shelled.  Property therein was damaged and one house was demolished at the village of Haddatha.  Between 2130 and 2215 hours, the villages of Deir 'Amiss, Kafra, Siddiqin and Tibnin were also shelled with material damage.

7. 20 March: between 935 and 1000 hours, Haret Saida (a suburb of the city of Sidon) and the villages of al-Hilaliya and Ain-ed-Dilb were shelled.  There was as a result extensive material damage.  At 1455 hours al-Hilaliya was again hit and two persons were wounded.

8. 21 March: shelling resumed but the extent of the damage could not be determined.

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