Violations across the Blue Line – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 22 February 2005 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, I have the honour to transmit herewith a summary of Israeli violations and acts of aggression against Lebanon from 9 January to 17 February 2005, inclusive (see annex).

  These grave violations are part of a series of persistent and provocative Israeli air, sea and land violations of Lebanese sovereignty, and intervene against international law, the resolutions of international legitimacy, and the repeated calls of the United Nations for their cessation.

  In view of the escalation of Israeli threats against Lebanon, my Government relies upon the United Nations to deter and prevent Israel from indulging in such acts and holds Israel fully responsible for any consequences, since these acts constitute a threat to international peace and security.

  I should be grateful if you would have this letter and its annex circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 36, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Ibrahim Assaf 

Chargé d’affaires a.i.

Annex to the letter dated 22 February 2005 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

   9 January 2005 

  At 1150 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Rweiset Alalam, Tallet, Al-abed and Tallet Rayak fired several artillery shells towards Kfarchouba, Kfarkila, Houla and Chanouh farm, resulting in the injury of a Lebanese citizen and damage to the school in Kfarkila and many houses in Houla.

    10 January 2005

  At 1809 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters off Ras-Naqoura fired a flare shell on the open sea.

    11 January 2005

  At 2119 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters off Ras-Naqoura fired two flare shells on the open sea.

    12 January 2005

  At 1809 hours, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Ramta inside Chebaa farms, fired three 120-mm mortar rounds, which struck the surroundings of Birket Elnaqar inside the farms; and at 2024 hours fired two 120-mm mortar rounds, which struck the same position.

  At 1809 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters off Ras-Naqoura fired several bursts of medium machine-gun fire on the open sea.

    13 January 2005

  Between 0650 and 0715 hours, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Ramta inside Chebaa farms, fired three 120-mm mortar rounds, which struck the surroundings of Birket Elnaqar inside the farms; and between 1800 and 1840 hours fired several rounds of 155-mm artillery.

  Between 0754 and 1355 hours and at 1735 hours, an Israeli gunboat off Ras-Naqoura fired several bursts of medium machine-gun fire on Lebanese territorial waters.

    14 January 2005

  Between 0710 and 0845 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned inside Chebaa farms fired seven 155-mm artillery rounds, which struck the surroundings

of Birket El Naqar inside the farms; and between 1940 and 2010 hours fired

10 155-mm artillery rounds from its position in Zebdine inside the farms at the same location.

    15 January 2005

  At 0629 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Zebdine inside Chebaa farms fired three 155-mm artillery rounds, which hit the surroundings of Birket El Naqar inside the farms; and between 1845 and 1900 hours fired several 155-mm artillery rounds from the same position at the same location.

    16 January 2005

  At 0655 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned inside Chebaa farms fired several 155-mm artillery rounds, which hit the surroundings of Birket El Naqar inside the farms.

    17 January 2005

  Between 1000 and 1105 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned inside Chebaa farms fired several 155-mm artillery rounds, which hit the outskirts of Kfarchouba-Halta and Bastra farm, and fired several 155-mm artillery rounds which hit the surroundings of Birket El Naqar; and between 1210 and 1230 hours fired from its position in Ramta (inside the farms) several tank rounds, which struck inside the farms.

  At 1429 hours, Israeli occupation forces fired several 155-mm artillery rounds, which hit the outskirts of Kfarchouba-Halta and Bastra farm; between 1735 and 1840 hours fired several 155-mm artillery rounds which hit the outskirts of Chanouh and Birket El Naqar; and at 1930 hours fired two 155-mm artillery rounds which hit the surroundings of Birket El Naqar inside the farms.

    18 January 2005

  Between 1115 and 1200 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, headed east, and circled over Saida and Saadiyate.

    20 January 2005

  At 2149 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Samaqa inside Chebaa farms fired several bursts of light and medium machine-gun fire at the surroundings of this position.

    24 January 2005

  At 2010 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters off Ras-Naqoura fired a flare shell on the open sea.

  Between 2210 and 0010 hours (25 January) and Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, headed to Beirut, and circled over Damour and Tyre.

    25 January 2005

  Between 1045 and 1325 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, and circled over Tyre, Nabatieh and Saida, and then over Khalde and Tyre.

  Between 1815 and 1915 hours, two Israeli helicopters violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude over Chebaa farms.

  Between 1755 and 1930 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters off Ras-Naqoura fired two flare shells and several bursts of medium machine-gun fire; and at 2029 hours fired a flare shell and several bursts of medium machine-gun fire on the open sea.

    26 January 2005

  Between 0720 and 1000 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, and circled over Saida, Tyre and Nabatieh.

  Between 1100 and 1200 hours, four Israeli warplanes violated Lebanese airspace at different altitudes, entered from above Chebaa farms and headed north. Two warplanes circled over southern Lebanon, and two warplanes circled over Chekka and Beirut.

  Between 1108 and 1355 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above Rmaiche, and circled over Rmaiche, Maarake and Qana.

  Between 1600 and 1805 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Fachkol inside Chebaa farms fired several bursts of light and medium machine-gun fire in different directions.

  At 1830 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters off Ras-Naqoura fired several bursts of medium machine-gun fire on the open sea.

    27 January 2005

  Between 1410 and 1625 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above Rmaiche, headed north, and circled over Saida and Tyre.

  Between 2100 and 2354 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, headed east, and circled over Beirut and Khalde.

  Between 2255 and 0025 hours (28 January), an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Saida, headed east, and circled over Saida.

  Between 1910 and 1915 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters off Ras-Naqoura fired a flare shell and several bursts of medium machine-gun fire on the open sea.

    28 January 2005

  Between 1635 and 1645 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Fachkol inside Chebaa farms fired several 155-mm artillery rounds, which struck Chanouh farm inside Lebanese territory.

    30 January 2005

  At 1429 hours, an Israeli gunboat in Lebanese territorial waters off Ras-Naqoura fired several bursts of medium machine-gun fire on the open sea, and at 1954 hours also fired several bursts of medium machine-gun fire on the open sea.

  Between 1630 and 1715 hours, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Zebdine inside Chebaa farms, fired several 120-mm mortar and 155-mm artillery rounds, which struck the surroundings of Chanouh farm inside Lebanese territory and the surroundings of Birket El Naqar inside the farms.

  Between 1810 and 1830 hours, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Zebdine inside Chebaa farms, fired several 120-mm mortar and 155-mm artillery rounds, which struck the surroundings of Chanouh farm inside Lebanese territory and the surroundings of Birket El Naqar inside the farms.

  Between 1810 and 1830 hours, Israeli helicopters violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude over Chebaa farms.

  Between 1930 and 2220 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, headed north, and circled over Beirut and Saida.

  Between 2020 and 2250 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, and circled over southern Lebanon.

    10 February 2005

  Between 0727 and 0805 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Beirut, and circled over Jounieh and Damour.

    13 February 2005

  Between 1100 and 1345 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Saida, headed east, circled over Damour, and then returned back south to Tyre.

  Between 2115 and 2315 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, headed to Beirut, and circled over Beirut and Saida.

    14 February 2005

  Between 1705 and 2000 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, headed to Beirut, and circled over Damour and Tyre.

  Between 2100 and 2203 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, circled over Tyre and Saida, then headed north to Jounieh, and circled over Chekka and Beirut.

  Between 2105 and 2335 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, circled over Tyre and Saida, then headed north to Jounieh, and circled over Chekka and Beirut.

    15 February 2005

  Between 0530 and 0800 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, and circled over Tyre and Damour.

  Between 1115 and 1415 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, headed east, and circled over Tyre, Nabatieh and Khalde.

    17 February 2005

  Between 0026 and 0102 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, and headed north.

  Between 0525 and 0755 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, headed to Khalde, and circled over Saida and Khalde.

  Between 0940 and 1200 hours, an Israeli drone aircraft violated Lebanese airspace at a medium altitude, entered from above the sea off Tyre, and circled over Saida, Tyre and Khalde.

—–