Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 21 February 2001 from the Permanent Representative

of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government and further to my previous letters on the same subject, I have the honour to convey to you hereunder a list of the violations and infringements that were committed by Israel against Lebanon in the period from 1 to 15 February 2001. Lebanon regards these incidents as an extension of Israel’s aggression against its people and territory.

1 February 2001

Between 0950 and 1125 hours Israeli warplanes overflew all parts of Lebanon at various altitudes, breaking the sound barrier. The fraternal forces stationed in the vicinity of Qulay`at air base sounded the warning sirens.

Between 1210 and 1315 hours Israeli enemy forces at the Ruwaysat al-Alam outpost in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-machine-gun fire at the surrounding area. Two Israeli helicopters also flew over the Shab`a farmlands.

At 1220 hours there was an explosion of unknown origin inside the Shab`a farmlands.

Between 1800 and 1825 hours two Israeli helicopters flew over the Shab`a farmlands.

2 February 2001

Between 2115 and 2240 hours Israeli forces fired several 120-mm mortar rounds at the Birkat al-Naqqar vicinity in an outlying area of Shab`a, in the liberated territories, from one of their outposts in the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

3 February 2001

Between 1620 and 1630 hours Israeli forces at the Ruwaysat al-Alam outpost in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at the surrounding area.

4 February 2001

Between 2000 and 2015 hours Israeli forces at the Ruwaysat al-Alam outpost in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at the surrounding area.

5 February 2001

Between 1035 and 1050 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Naqurah area at very high altitudes.

Between 1245 and 1415 hours Israeli warplanes flew over the occupied Shab`a farmlands at very high altitudes.

6 February 2001

Between 1400 and 1425 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the Zahrani and Tyre areas at very high altitude.

At 2030 hours an Israeli gunboat in the territorial waters of the occupied territories off Ra’s al-Naqurah launched an illumination flare over the same offshore area.

7 February 2001

Between 1550 and 1615 hours Israeli forces fired six 120-mm mortar rounds at the Birkat al-Naqqar vicinity in an outlying area of Shab`a, in liberated Lebanese territory, from one of their outposts in the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

8 February 2001

Between 1420 and 1445 hours Israeli enemy forces fired five 120-mm mortar rounds from the Ruwaysat al-Alam outpost in the occupied Shab`a farmlands. Four tank shells impacted at Sawwanah hill in an outlying area of Shab`a, in liberated territory.

At 1540 hours Israeli enemy forces at the same outpost in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-machine-gun fire at the surrounding area.

At 2300 hours Israeli forces launched an illumination flare over Al-Sha`b al-Kasir hill in the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

10 February 2001

Between 0925 and 1005 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew over the occupied Shab`a farmlands and the Jazzin area at very high altitude.

Between 1130 and 1230 hours an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft overflew the central Bekaa area as far as Ba`labakk before heading south.

Between 1920 and 1925 hours Israeli enemy forces at the Ruwaysat al-Alam outpost in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at the surrounding area.

11 February 2001

Between 1150 and 1210 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the South, the Bekaa, the North and Mount Lebanon at very high altitudes, breaking the sound barrier. They were engaged in the South by the Army’s L-11 ground-based anti-aircraft units. An Israeli reconnaissance aircraft also flew over the Naqurah area at very high altitude.

Between 1140 and 1205 hours two Israeli helicopters flew over the occupied Shab`a farmlands.

Between 1640 and 1730 hours Israeli warplanes overflew the Marj Uyun and Nabatiyah areas at very high altitudes, breaking the sound barrier.

Between 1730 and 1740 hours an Israeli helicopter flew over the occupied Shab`a farmlands before leaving in the direction of the occupied territories.

At 2000 hours two Israeli helicopters flew over the Abbad border area.

12 February 2001

Between 2030 and 2115 hours extensive movements by Israeli military vehicles were seen in the Hadab area inside the occupied territories opposite the towns of Yarun and Marun al-Ras.

Between 2125 and 2135 hours Israeli forces at their Ramta hill outpost in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-weapons fire at the surrounding area.

13 February 2001

Between 1250 and 1310 hours Israeli enemy forces at their Ruwaysat al-Alam outpost in the occupied Shab`a farmlands directed a number of bursts of medium-machine-gun fire and launched three smoke bombs at the surrounding area.

Between 1900 and 1940 hours there were two explosions of unknown origin in the occupied Shab`a farmlands. An Israeli helicopter then flew over the farmlands before leaving in the direction of the occupied territories.

Between 1815 and 2000 hours Israeli enemy forces carried out a military exercise in the occupied Shab`a farmlands in which light and medium automatic weapons and artillery shells were used. Helicopters and a reconnaissance aircraft also took part.

14 February 2001

In the morning Israeli enemy forces installed two monitoring cameras at the Nabi Uwaydah intersection near the Blue Line between Kafr Killa and Udaysah.

At 2030 hours Israeli forces at the Ra’s al-Naqurah position launched five illumination flares over the surrounding area.

Like the previous Israeli violations of which it represents a continuation, this latest series is in flagrant violation of Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and of Lebanon’s sovereignty and poses a threat to stability in the region.

I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 40, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Sélim Tadmoury

Ambassador

Permanent Representative