Mideast situation – UNTSO supplemental information – SecGen report

Supplemental information

The Chief of Staff of UNTSO, Major-General Ensio Siilasvuo, has submitted the following report on incidents observed by United Nations military observers and complaints received from the parties on 23 October 1972:

Israel-Lebanon sector

1. OP 1/ reports:

OP Ras: Between 0330 2/ and 1500 Israel forces personnel, armoured personnel carrier and trailer reoccupied position at approximate MR 1907-2749 north of border pillar 19.

2. Complaints by the parties:

Complaints have been received from Lebanon alleging that:

(a) On 22 October between 0725 and 0750 two Israel forces jet aircraft overflew the Lebanese regions of Ett Taibe (approximate MR 1988-2977),

Tibnine (approximate MR 1886-2887), Nabatiye (approximate MR 1958-3090),

Sour (approximate MR 169-297), Saida and Bent Jbail (approximate MR 1908-2805).

(b) On 22 October between 0935 and 0945 an Israel forces jet aircraft overflew the Lebanese regions of Naqpura (approximate MR 1629-2805) and Sour.

(c) On 22 October between 1000 and 1020 two Israel forces jet aircraft overflew the Lebanese regions of Markaba (approximate MR 1980-2934), Tibnine, Sour, Saida, Jezzine (24 kilometres north-north-west of OP Khiam), Nabatiye and Ilaqpura.

(d) On 22 October between 1200 and 1220 two Israel forces jet aircraft overflew the Lebanese regions of Maroun Er Ras (approximate MR 1918-2785), Nabatiye, Karaoun (28 kilometres north-north-west of OP Khiam), Rachaiya El Ouadi (approximate MR 2285-3220), Hasbaiya (approximate MR 2117-3115), Marjayoun (approximate MR 2056-3074, Sour and Naqpura.

Only complaint (b) above was confirmed by United Nations observation for that portion within observation range of OP (see S/7930/Add.l776, para. 2 (b)) Regarding complaint (a), OP Khiam reported jet sounds between 0744  and 0745. Regarding complaint (c), OP Naq reported jet sounds at 1001.

Israel-Syria sector

1. OP reports:

(a) OP Two: At 0516 machine-gun fire, which ceased immediately, by Israel forces.

(b) OP Five:  Between 13^9 and 1350 rifle fire by Israel forces.

2. Complaints by the parties:

Complaints have been received from Syria alleging that:

(a) On 17 October at about 0430 Israel forces positions at approximate MR 2251-2959 opened machine-gun fire across the ABFDLs (the area between the limits of the forward defended localities indicating the cease-fire lines) towards Syrian forces positions in the area. The fire was not returned.

(b) On 17 October at about 0630 an Israel forces armoured personnel carrier crossed the IFDLs (the limits of the Israel forward defended localities indicating the cease-fire line on the Israel side) at approximate MR 2298-2815; and 10 Israel forces personnel disembarked.

(c) On 17 October at about 0715 Israel forces positions at approximate MR 2251-2959 directed machine-gun fire across the ABFDLs towards Syrian forces positions in the area.  The fire was not returned.

(d) On 17 October at about 0945 Israel forces positions at approximate MR 2251-2959 directed machine-gun fire across the ABFDLs towards Syrian forces positions in the area.  The fire was not returned.

(e) On 17 October at about 1135 Israel forces military positions at approximate MR 2292-2787 directed machine-gun fire across the IFDLs.

(f) On 17 October at about 1^05 Israel forces positions at approximate MR 2301-2851 directed machine-gun fire across the IFDLs.

(g) On 17 October at about 1630 Israel forces positions at approximate MR 2251-2959 directed machine-gun fire across the ABFDLs towards Syrian forcee positions in the area.  The fire was not returned.

The above complaints were not confirmed by United Nations observation.

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1/  The locations of the observation posts established by UNTSO are given in S/7930/Add.l583.

2/  All times GMT.