Violations across the Blue Line – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 24 May 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

 On instructions from my Government, I provide you with the following summary of Israeli violations and acts of aggression against Lebanon:

    10 May 2004

  At 1025 hours Israeli enemy forces positioned at Ruwaysat al-Alam, within the occupied Shab`a Farms area, fired a number of rounds from medium-calibre weapons at the area around the said position.

  At 1920 hours Israeli enemy forces positioned at Al-Summaqah, within the occupied Shab`a Farms area, fired a number of rounds from medium-calibre weapons at the area around the said position.

    11 May 2004

  At 0940 hours Israeli enemy forces positioned at Ruwaysat al-Alam, within the occupied Shab`a Farms area, fired a number of rounds from medium-calibre weapons at the area around the said position.

    13 May 2004

  Between 1240 and 1245 hours Israeli enemy forces positioned within the occupied Shab`a Farms area fired two 120-mm mortar shells at the region surrounding Birkat al-Naqqar and a number of rounds from medium-calibre weapons at the area around Ruwaysat al-Alam.

  At 2300 hours Israeli enemy forces in the occupied Shab`a Farms area fired a number of rounds from medium-calibre weapons at the area around Ruwaysat al-Alam.

  At 0222 hours an Israeli military boat in the open sea off Ra's Naqurah fired a number of rounds from medium-calibre weapons in the direction of the territorial waters, and between 2155 and 2220 hours it fired a number of rounds from medium-calibre weapons and a flare bomb over the territorial waters.

    14 May 2004

  At 1650 hours an Israeli military boat in the open sea off Ra's Naqurah fired a number of rounds from medium-calibre weapons in the direction of the territorial waters.

    15 May 2004

  At 0730 hours Israeli enemy forces positioned at Zibdin, within the occupied Shab`a Farms area, fired a number of rounds from medium-calibre weapons at the area around the said position.

    18 May 2004

  Between 1135 and 1215 hours the Israel Air Force violated Lebanese airspace, flying at various altitudes over the Naqurah and Tyre regions.

    19 May 2004

  Between 1115 and 1145 hours the Israel Air Force violated Lebanese airspace, flying at various altitudes over the occupied Shab`a Farms.

    20 May 2004

  Between 1225 and 1227 hours two Israeli warplanes violated Lebanese airspace, flying at various altitudes, and overflew the sea off Na`imah in an easterly direction.

    22 May 2004

  Between 1440 and 1515 hours the Israel Air Force violated Lebanese airspace, flying at various altitudes over the occupied Shab`a Farms.

  These grave violations are part of a series of persistent and provocative Israeli violations of Lebanese territory, airspace, and territorial waters and are in contravention of the principles of international law and the resolutions of international legitimacy, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations has repeatedly called for their cessation.

  In view of these violations and the stepping-up of Israeli threats to Lebanon and the safety of its territory and its citizens, Lebanon calls upon the Security Council to deter and prevent Israel from such dangerous acts, which pose a threat to international security and peace. Israel must assume full responsibility for those acts and for any consequences to which they may give rise.

  In drawing your attention to the gravity and possible consequences of such acts, I request to have this letter of complaint circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 37, and of the Security Council.

( Signed) Sami Kronfol

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

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