Violations across the Blue Line – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 26 October 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

  On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit herewith a summary of Israeli violations and acts of aggression against Lebanon during the period from 25 September to 18 October 2004 (see annex).

  These grave violations are part of a series of persistent and provocative Israeli violations of Lebanese territory, including air, sea and land, and contravene the principles of international law, the resolutions of international legitimacy and your repeated calls for their cessation.

  In view of these violations and the stepping-up of Israeli threats against Lebanon and the safety of its territory and its citizens, Lebanon calls upon the United Nations to deter and prevent Israel from such dangerous acts, which constitute a threat to international security and peace. Lebanon holds Israel fully responsible for any consequences to which those acts may lead.

  In drawing your attention to the grave consequences of such acts, I request that the present letter of complaint and its annex be circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 36, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Sami Kronfol 

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

Annex to the letter dated 26 October 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

    25 September 2004

  At 0545 hours, an Israeli gunboat in the Lebanese territorial water facing

Ras-Naqoura fired a flare shell, and at 1859 hours, fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire on the open sea.

    26 September 2004

  At 0454 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters facing Ras-Naqoura fired a flare shell, and at 2239 hours and 2249 hours, fired two flare shells on the open sea.

    26 September 2004

  Between 1140 and 1230 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned inside Chebaa farms fired 155mm artillery rounds, which impacted upon the surroundings of Birket Elnaqar, inside the farms.

    26 September 2004

  At 1525 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned inside Chebaa farms fired two 155mm artillery rounds, which impacted inside the farms.

    28 September 2004

  Between 1120 and 1220 hours and at 1959 hours, an Israeli gunboat in the Lebanese territorial water facing Ras-Naqoura fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun on the open sea.

    29 September 2004

  At 0949 hours and at 1310 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters facing Ras-Naqoura fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun on the open sea.

    30 September 2004

  At 2205 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters facing Ras-Naqoura fired a flare shell on the open sea.

   1 October 2004 

  At 1115 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters facing Ras-Naqoura fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire, and between 1600 and 2110 hours, fired a flare shell and several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire on the open sea.   

    1 October 2004

  At 1400 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Rweiset Alalam inside the farms fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire at the surroundings.

    2 October 2004

  At 0540 hours and at 1009 hours, between 1340 and 1350 hours and at 1755 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters facing Ras-Naqoura fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire on the open sea.

    3 October 2004

  At 1400 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Rweiset Alalam inside the farms fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire at the surroundings.

    4 October 2004

  At 0005 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters facing Ras-Naqoura fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire on the open sea.

    4 October 2004

  At 1250 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Tallet Alradar inside the farms fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire at the surroundings.

    5 October 2004

  At 1540 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Tallet Alradar inside the farms fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire at the surroundings.

    6 October 2004

  At 0450 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters facing Ras-Naqoura fired two flare shells on the open sea.

   6 October 2004 

  At 1400 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Rweiset Alalam inside the farms fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire at the surroundings.

    7 October 2004

  Between 0310 and 0625 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters facing Ras-Naqoura fired two flare shells and several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire on the open sea.

    8 October 2004

  At 0745 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters facing Ras-Naqoura fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire on the open sea.

    8 October 2004

  At 1504 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Rweiset-Alalam inside the farms fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire at the surroundings.

    9 October 2004

  At 1554 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters facing Ras-Naqoura fired several bursts of medium-calibre machine gun fire on the open sea.

    13 October 2004

  Between 1725 and 1800 hours, two Israeli helicopters violated Lebanese airspace at medium altitude over Chebaa farms.

  Between 2115 and 2135 hours, two Israeli helicopters violated Lebanese airspace at medium altitude over Chebaa farms.

    17 October 2004

  Between 1440 and 1740 hours, an Israeli drone plane violated Lebanese airspace at medium altitude, entering from above Tyre, and flew in a circular motion above Tyre, Nabatieh and Saida.

    18 October 2004

  Between 1100 and 1155 hours, two Israeli warplanes violated Lebanese airspace at different altitudes, entering from above the sea facing Tyre, headed east and north towards Beirut, flew in a circular motion above Beirut, then headed north towards Chekaa and flew in a circular motion over Chekaa.

  Between 1145 and 1215 hours, two Israeli warplanes violated Lebanese airspace at high altitude, entering from above the sea facing Saida, headed towards Beirut, and flew in a circular motion over Beirut and Saida.

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