Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 7 May 1987 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government and further to my previous letters concerning Israel's escalation of its air, sea and land attacks against southern Lebanon, I have the honour to inform you that the Israeli Air Force renewed its bombing of the south-eastern suburbs of the city of Sidon at dawn on Wednesday, 6 May 1987, aiming at a number of peaceful Lebanese villages in the area and Palestinian camps, particularly the Ein el-Hilweh camp located south of the city's port. According to the latest information, the bombing killed 15 people and wounded 30 others, all the victims being civilians.

Israeli naval units also stepped up their blockade of the ports of Tyre and Sidon land continued their acts of sea piracy against commercial vessels inside Lebanese territorial waters with a view to preventing then from entering the two harbours. Reports indicate that Israel is taking steps to make the port at Ras Naqoura, on the border between Lebanon and Israel, into a naval base as an alternative to the port of Haifa.

The Lebanese Government strongly condemns these vicious Israeli attacks and holds Israel fully responsible for the explosion of the situation in southern Lebanon. It draws the attention of the international community, as represented by the United Nations and its organs, and particularly the Security Council, to the community's responsibilities under the Charter to maintain international peace and security.

The Lebanese Government has already warned that condonation of Israel's acts of aggression will encourage it to continue to scorn the resolutions of the Security Council, the Charter of the United Nations and international laws, to persist in its aggression and to carry out its designs against Lebanon in the southern area of that country. The Lebanese Government therefore reserves the right to call for a meetinq of the Security Council at any time that it should see fit.

I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under item 39 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Rachid FAKHOURY

Permanent Representative

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*A/42/50.