Violations across the Blue Line – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 11 January 2005 from the Permanent  Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed  to the Secretary-General 

  On instructions from my Government, I include below a summary of Israeli violations and acts of aggression against Lebanese sovereignty which occurred during the period from 1 to 8 January 2005.

    Air violations

  Between 1113 and 1145 hours on 6 January 2005 two Israeli warplanes overflew the sea off Tripoli at a distance of 12 miles from the coast, then headed south towards the Dahr al-Baydar area, proceeding as far as the regions of Jazzin and Sidon and out to a distance of 10 miles over the sea. They then flew back in a northerly direction and circled between Tripoli, Dahr al-Baydar, Jazzin and Sidon, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  At various intervals between 1200 and 1315 hours on 7 January 2005 Israeli enemy aircraft flew at extremely high altitude over the occupied Shab`a Farms.

  Between 2050 and 2100 hours on 8 January 2005 two Israeli helicopters performed a flight off Ra’s Naqurah, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

    Sea violations

  At 1625 hours on 1 January 2005 in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah an Israeli enemy gunboat fired a number of rounds in the direction of the territorial waters.

  At 0810 hours on 7 January 2005 in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah an Israeli enemy gunboat fired a number of rounds in the direction of the territorial waters. It returned between 2125 and 2135 hours and fired two flare bombs over the said waters.

  At 1849 hours on 8 January 2005 in the open sea off Ra’s Naqurah, an Israeli enemy gunboat fired a flare bomb over the territorial waters.

    Field violations

  At 1400 hours on 7 January 2005, on the outskirts of the town of Mays al-Jabal, in the Qadimah Gate locality on the border, within Lebanese territory, while two persons named Ali Dahir and Hasan Dulani were collecting scrap metal with a van, Israeli enemy forces fired a number of rounds from light weapons in their direction. The van was struck by a number of shots, but the two persons were not wounded.

  These grave violations are part of a series of persistent and provocative Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace and territory and go against 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 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. Lebanon places upon Israel full responsibility for any consequences to which those acts may give rise.

  I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly under agenda item 36 and of the Security Council.

( Signed) Sami Kronfol

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

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