Mideast situation – UNTSO – Report on the status of the cease-fire

REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE CEASE-FIRE

IN THE ISRAEL-LEBANON SECTOR

The Chief of Staff of UNTSO has submitted the following report on developments in the Israel-Lebanon sector during the month of April 1975.

1. Activity in the sector during the month remained at a low level.

2. Israel forces personnel continued to occupy daily, during daylight hours, five positions on the Lebanese side of the Armistice Demarcation Line (ADL) near border pillars 11 (AMR 1799-2788), 1/ l4 (AMR 1838-2730 (except on 7, 8, 9, 12, 20 through 27 and 29 April), 18 (AMR 1880-2740) (except on 19 and 20 April), l9 (AMR 1907-2749) and 33 (AMR 2004-2904).

3. There were nine cases of firing across the ADL, one of which involved an exchange of fire, and seven crossing violations. These were reported as follows:

(a) OP Lab (AMR 1643-2772), south of the village of Labouna, reported mortar fire on 1 April and machine-gun fire on 22 April, both by Israel forces.

(b) OP Hin (AMR 1770-2790), east of the village of Marouahine, reported artillery fire on 1 and 3 April, automatic-weapons fire on 6 April and machine-gun fire on 23 and 26 April, all by Israel forces. An exchange of automatic-weapons fire between Israel forces and unidentified forces east-south-east of the OP was reported on 1 April. It also reported crossing violations by Israel forces on 1 April (maximum penetration 30 metres), on 5 April (maximum penetration 20 metres), on l4 April (maximum penetration 25 metres) and on 15 April (maximum penetration , 100 metres).

(c) OP Mar (AMR 1998-2921), south-east of the village of Markaba, reported a crossing violation by Israel forces on 15 April (maximum penetration 200 metres).

(d) OP Khiam (AMR 2071-3025), south of the village of El Khiam, reported artillery fire by Israel forces on 4 April.

(e) Naqoura Outstation (AMR 1629-2805), on the coast near the village of Naqoura, reported that an Israel forces naval vessel had penetrated Lebanese territorial waters on 26 April.

(f) An UNTSO mobile patrol, while located in the vicinity of Chebaa (AMR 2200-3055), reported a crossing violation by Israel forces on 16 April (maximum penetration 900 metres).

4. There were 23 overflights reported during the period. Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 1, 2, 3, 5 9, 15, 22, 24 and 30 Apr (one each day), and on 5, 6, 10, 13, 23 and 28 April (two each day). Overflight by unidentified jet aircraft were reported on 10 and 24 April (one each day); United Nations military observers were unable to identify the aircraft owing to high altitude.

5. Lebanese authorities submitted complaints during the month under review as follows:

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

(b) Fifteen complaints concerned Israel forces jet aircraft overflights. Thirteen of these complaints were confirmed.

(c) Three complaints concerned Israel forces helicopter overflights, complaints were not confirmed.

(d) Seven complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces had penetrates Lebanese territory on 1, 2 (two incidents), 3, 5, 6 and 30 April. The complaint concerning the incursion of 5 April was confirmed.

(e) Eight complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces naval vessels had penetrated Lebanese territorial waters on 2, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 22 and 26 April.  The complaint concerning 26 April was confirmed.

(f) In addition, three complaints were submitted with requests that inquiries into them be conducted by United Nations military observers (see para. 6 below).

6. The inquiries requested by the Lebanese authorities were authorized by the Chief of Staff of UNTSO. On each occasion United Nations military observers, accompanied by a representative of the Senior Lebanese Delegate to the Israel-Lebanon Mixed Armistice Commission, interviewed witnesses in the area and examined the evidence presented to them.  The complaints and relevant inquiries are outlined below:

(a) A complaint alleged that on 1 April between 0805 and 0830 hours GMT, Israel artillery and automatic-weapons fire had fallen in several areas in Lebanese territory, including El Jibbain (AMR 1724-2806), causing the death of one Lebanese and various material damage in El Jibbain.  The inquiry took place on 2 April.  The complaint was confirmed in so far as damage to telephone and electrical lines was concerned.

(b) A complaint alleged that on 3 April between 1200 and 1235 hours GMT, Israel forces artillery fire had fallen in the vicinity of Tair Harfa 1705-2211) and Marouahine (AMR 1760-2792), wounding three Lebanese women in Pair Harfa and causing material damage in both areas.  The inquiry took place on April.  The complaint was confirmed in so far as damage to three houses in Tair Harfa was concerned.

(c) A complaint alleged that on 4 April between 1200 and 1635 hours GMT, Israel forces artillery and automatic-weapons fire had fallen in several areas in Lebanese territory, including Chouaiya (AMR 2172-3110), causing damage to one house and one vehicle in Chouaiya.  The inquiry took place on 5 April. The complaint was confirmed.

—–

—-

1/ AMR – approximate map reference.