Mideast situation/Lebanon/Airspace violations – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 11 December 2001 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 inform you as follows:

  On 21 November 2001 Israeli warplanes overflew the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the South at high altitudes, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 2135 hours on 24 November and 0100 hours on 25 November 2001 an Israeli warplane circled over the sea between Sidon and Rumaylah, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1009 and 1040 hours on 25 November 2001 an Israeli warplane flew over the sea off Tyre heading towards Beirut, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1340 and 1422 hours on 28 November 2001 two Israeli warplanes flew over the sea west of Tyre heading north. They circled between Beirut and the South, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 2110 and 2355 hours on the same day an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew over the sea off Tyre heading north. It flew in circles along the coast between Tyre and Beirut, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  At 1133 hours on 26 November 2001, while personnel from Observer Group Lebanon were patrolling between the town of Ayn al-Luwayzah and the water pumps at the Wazzani spring, a soldier with the Israeli enemy forces positioned in the town of Ghajar trained his rifle on them.

  The Israeli aerial violations indicated above confirm that Israel is continuing to provoke Lebanon and to attack the country. These violations are in flagrant violation of Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and of Lebanon’s sovereignty, and they pose a threat to security and stability in the region.

  I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 42, and of the Security Council.

( Signed) Sélim Tadmoury

Ambassador

Permanent Representative