Mideast situation – UNTSO – Report on the status of the cease-fire

Further report on the status of the cease-fire in the

Israel-Lebanon sector

The Chief of Staff of UNTSO has submitted the following report on developments in the Israel-Lebanon sector during September 1976.

1. Activity remained at a low level during the period.

2. Israel forces personnel continued to occupy daily, during daylight hours, six positions on the Lebanese side of the armistice demarcation line (ADL) near border pillars 6 (AMR 1680-2770), 1/ 11 (AMR 1799-2788), 14 (AMR 1838-2740 (except on 7, 9, 13, 15, 16, 28 and 29 September), 18 (AMR 1880-2740), 19 (AMR 1907-2749) and 33 (AMR 2004-2904).

3. There were nine cases of firing across the ADL and five crossing violations. These were reported as follows:

(a) OP Lab (AMR 1643-2772), south of the village of Labouna, reported automatic-weapons fire on 7 and 26 September and small-arms fire on 17 and 18 September, all by Israel forces.  It also reported three crossing violations, by Israel forces on 8, 10 and 12 September (maximum penetrations 1,000, 25 and 400 metres respectively).

(b) OP Ras (AMR 1920-2785), south-east of the village of Maroun Er Ras, reported artillery fire on 18 and 19 September and automatic-weapons fire on 25 September, all by Israel forces.

(c) Naqoura outstation (AMR 1629-2805), on the coast near the village of Naqpura, reported that an Israel forces naval vessel penetrated Lebanese territorial waters on 21 September (maximum penetration 4,000 metres).

(d) An UNTSO mobile patrol, while located at AMR 1693-2773, reported a crossing violation by Israel forces on 29 September (maximum penetration ICO metres).

4.  There were 23 overflights reported during the period.  Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13, 16, 17, 23, 24, 28 and 29 September (one each day), and on 10, 15, 19 and 30 September (two each day). Overflights by unidentified jet aircraft were reported on 1 and 21 September (one each day); United Nations military observers were unable to identify the aircraft owing to high altitude.

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1/ AMR – approximate map reference.