Mideast situation/Status of cease-fire – UNTSO supplemental information – SecGen report

Further report on the status of the cease-fire

in the Middle East

The Chief of Staff of UNTSO has submitted the following report on developments in the Israel-Lebanon sector during the period 13 to 19 January 1975:

1. Intense ground activity consisting of artillery and mortar firing was reported in the Arkoub area south of the Hasbaiya region during the early part of the period, but the activity decreased considerably after 16 January.  Ground activity consisting of automatic-weapons and mortar fire was reported in the western portion of the sector on l6 and 17 January.

2. Israel forces personnel continued to occupy daily, during daylight hours, four positions on the Lebanese side of the armistice demarcation line (ADL) near border pillars 11 (AMR 1799-2788), 1/ 19 (AMR 1907-2749), 33 (AMR 2004-2904) and, except on l4 January, 18 (AMR 1880-2740).

3. There were 44 cases of firing across the ADL, 2 of which involved an exchange of fire. These were reported as follows:

(a) OP Hin (AMR 1770-2790), east of the village of Marouahine, reported mortar fire on l6 and 18 January, machine-gun fire on l6 and 17 January, flares on 16 January and artillery on 18 January, all by Israel forces. It also reported an exchange of automatic-weapons fire on l6 January between Israel forces and unidentified forces east of the OP and an exchange of automatic-weapons fire on 17 January between Israel forces and unidentified forces west-south-west of the OP.  During the firing incidents on 16 and 17 January, Israel forces machine-gun fire impacted within the OP causing minor damage to the OP. No injuries to United Nations personnel were reported.

(b) OP Khiam (AMR 2071-3025), south of the village of El Khiam, reported artillery fire on 13, I4, 15, 16 and 17 January and mortar fire on 17 and 19 January, all by Israel forces.  It also reported mortar fire by Lebanon forces on 16 January.

4. There were six overflights reported during the period.  Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 13 January (two overflights) and on 15, 18 and 19 January (one each day).  One overflight by an unidentified jet aircraft was reported on 19 January. The aircraft crossed the ADL north-north-east of OP Mar and was observed flying east to west. United Nations military observers were unable to identify the aircraft owing to cloudy conditions.

5. The Lebanese authorities submitted 38 complaints during the period under review as follows:

(a) Sixteen complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces fire had fallen on Lebanese territory.  Fourteen of these complaints were confirmed by United Nations observation, except for damage.

(b) Five complaints concerned Israel forces jet aircraft overflights. Three of these complaints were confirmed.

(c) Two complaints concerned Israel forces helicopter overflights.  The complaints were not confirmed.

(d) Five complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces naval vessels penetrated Lebanese territorial waters on 12, l4, 15, 17 and 18 January. The complaints were not confirmed, owing to darkness.

(e) Two complaints were submitted alleging that: Israel forces petrols had penetrated Lebanese territory on l4 and 18 January.  The complaints were not confirmed owing to darkness.

(f) Seven complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces patrols had daily penetrated Lebanese territory in the region of Chebaa (AMR 2200-3055) and Rmaich (AMR l847-2760). Penetration in the Rmaich area was confirmed for all of the complaints.  Penetration in the Chebaa area was not confirmed, as the location of the alleged incidents was outside United Nations observation range.

(g) In addition, one complaint was submitted with a request that an inquiry into it be conducted by United Nations military observers (see para. 6 below).

6.  The complaint referred to in paragraph 5 (g) alleged that, on 12 January between 2215 and 2330 GMT an Israel detachment penetrated Lebanese territory in the vicinity of Halta (AMR 2128-3020), where it exploded four houses and caused other material damage, and Kfar Chouba (AMR 2150-3035), where it exploded one house, causing injury to two women.  The inquiry requested by the Lebanese authorities was authorized by the Chief of Staff of UNTSO.  The inquiry in Halta took place on 13 January.  The portion of the -complaint pertaining to Halta is confirmed in/so far as damage to two houses and other material is concerned.  The inquiry in Kfar Chouba was delayed owing to shelling in the area and took place on 13 January.  No witnesses were made available, and shelling subsequent to the receipt of the complaint prevented military observers from identifying an exploded house.  The portion of the complaint pertaining to Kfar Chouba is not confirmed.

1/ AMR – approximate map reference.