Violations across the Blue Line – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 11 May 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

  With reference to our letter of 10 May 2004 I have the honour to inform you, at the request of the Government of Lebanon, that on 7 May 2004 Israeli occupation forces positioned at Al-Summaqah and Ruwaysat al-Alam in the occupied Shab`a Farms infiltrated to a depth of more than 200 metres into liberated Lebanese territory, thus violating that territory.

  On 8 May 2004 a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol composed of the chief of the liaison office, Colonel Scellos, and Major Colo, together with officers of the Lebanese liaison unit, proceeded to the location of the incident and investigated the violation.

  It was evident to the joint Lebanese/United Nations team, after examining the site of the incident and taking the necessary measurements by means of sensitive topographical equipment, that a group of members of the Israeli army had crossed the border of the occupied zone, heading west, and spread out over an area 250 metres deep and 20 metres wide within liberated Lebanese territory, reaching the point defined by coordinates UTM 752174-3690063, in the neighbourhood of Ruwaysat al-Alam marker 173, where the resistance observed the advance of the said Israeli forces and clashed with them, forcing them to retreat. Annexed hereto you will find a map showing the location of the incident.

  At various times of day on 7 May 2004, the Israeli forces had committed numerous violations involving the use of warplanes, military helicopters and artillery, shelling various areas in South Lebanon, as follows:

  At 0445 hours Israeli occupying forces positioned within the occupied Shab`a Farms fired a number of 155-mm field artillery shells on the environs of the Kafr Shuba and Habariyah areas.

  At 0450 hours two Israeli helicopters flew at medium altitude over the occupied Shab`a Farms, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  At 0455 hours Israeli occupying forces positioned in the occupied Shab`a Farms fired a number of 155-mm artillery shells on the environs of the Habariyah area.

  At 0535 hours a number of Israeli warplanes flew at high altitude over the occupied Shab`a Farms, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  At 0540 hours the Israeli Air Force attacked the environs of the Kafr Shuba area, firing two air-to-ground missiles.

  At 0545 hours the Israeli Air Force attacked the environs of the occupied Shab`a Farms area, firing two air-to-ground missiles.

  At 0610 hours the Israeli Air Force attacked the southern part of the Kafr Shuba area, firing two air-to-ground missiles.

  At 0630 hours Israeli enemy forces positioned in the occupied Shab`a Farms fired a number of 155-mm artillery shells on the environs of the Kafr Shuba area.

  Between 0815 and 0900 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew at medium altitude over the occupied Shab`a Farms, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 0920 and 1020 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew at medium altitude over the occupied Shab`a Farms, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  Between 1015 and 1045 hours two Israeli helicopters flew at medium altitude over the occupied Shab`a Farms, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

  These grave violations are part of a series of persistent and provocative Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace and territory and are in contravention of the principles of international law and the resolutions of international legitimacy, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations has repeatedly called for their cessation.

  In view of these violations and the stepping-up of Israeli threats to Lebanon and the safety of its territory and its citizens, Lebanon calls upon the Security Council to deter and prevent Israel from such dangerous acts, which pose a threat to international security and peace. Israel must assume full responsibility for those acts and for any consequences to which they may give rise.

  In drawing your attention to the gravity and possible consequences of such acts, I request to have this letter of complaint circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 37, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Sami Kronfol 

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

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