Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 24 September 2001 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On Monday, 24 September 2001, at 11.30 a.m., Israeli warplanes crossed Lebanese airspace in the following areas:

– Fifteen aircraft overflew the South to the outskirts of Sidon-Jazzin, breaking the sound barrier;

– Twelve aircraft crossed the border zone between Lebanon and Golan;

– Six Israeli warplanes carried out a reconnaissance flight above the town of Tyre, at an altitude of 20,000 metres.

Lebanon protests against these assaults on its independence and territorial integrity and its airspace and, while drawing your attention and that of the Security Council to the danger and threat they represent for peace and security in the region, calls upon you to condemn these assaults, which constitute grave provocations; Israel will have to assume responsibility for their consequences, and ensure that they are brought to an end.

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

(Signed) Sélim Tadmoury

Ambassador

Permanent Representative