Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 23 February 1990 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the

Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to

the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government, and further to our previous letters concerning repeated Israeli attacks on the Lebanese territory, I have the honour to inform you of the following facts concerning the most recent of these attacks:

On Thursday, 22 February, the Israeli air force carried out a raid against the locality of Chawaliq, to the east of the town of Saida, launching eight rockets which completely destroyed some houses, while artillery fire came from locations held by the "army of South Lebanon".

On the night of Wednesday-Thursday, 21-22 February, the Israeli air force overflew the region of Saida and the coast as far as Kasmiye, while Israeli military craft could be observed off the coast of Zahrani, on the evening of Wednesday, 21 February.  Israeli helicopters overflew the area of Al-Kharroub, to the north of the town of Saida, and launched flares.

On Wednesday and Thursday, 21 and 22 February, movements of Israeli troops were observed in the Hasbaiya and Marjayoun regions: eight vehicles and approximately 50 men gathered near Kawkaba hill and the pro-Israeli militia at Ain Kanya and Zumraya fired machine-guns in the direction of the surrounding forests,

During the night of Wednesday-Thursday, 21-22 February, Israeli helicopters overflew the western plain where an Israeli military convoy consisting of 10 vehicles was advancing towards the hills of Toumat Niha and Jabal Alzahr; they launched flares above Tlal Al-Jabbour and Qilia-Labbaya and above the Litani river and Abu-Rachid, while at the same time there was cannon fire and machine-gun fire directed at neighbouring areas.

The Government of Lebanon bitterly denounces these latest attacks and condemns the continual acts of hostility, which are a flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and freedom and of international conventions and covenants. It reserves the right to convene the Security Council to consider the situation created by these Israeli attacks, which are a threat to peace and security in the region and throughout the world.

I should be grateful if you would arrange for this letter to be circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under item 35 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Chawki CHOUERI

Ambassador

Charge d'affaires a.i.

_______________