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 May 1975.

1. Activity in the sector during the month remained at a low level, except  for increased ground and air activity on 25 May.  The situation was tense in mid-May and again towards the end of the month.

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 1838-2734 (except on 1, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 20, 30 and 31 May), 18 (AMR 1880-2740), 19 (AMR 1907-2749) and 33 (AMR 2004-2949) .

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

(a) OP Lab  (AMR 1643-2772), south of the village of Labouna, reported automatic-weapons  fire on 11 and 26 May, both by Israel forces.

(b) OP Hin  (AMR 1770-2790), east of the village of Marouahine, reported automatic-weapons fire on 7 and 25 May and machine-gun fire on 27 May, all by Israel forces.

(c) OP Ras (AMR 1920-2785),  south-east of the village of Maroun Er Ras, reported crossing violations  on 19 May (maximum penetration 200 metres) and on 28 May (maximum penetration 50 metres), both by Israel forces.

(d) OP Mar (AMR 1998-2921), south-east of the village  of Markaba, reported automatic-weapons  fire by Israel  forces on 11 May.

(e) OP Khiam (AMR 2071-3025), south of the village of El Khiam, reported mortar fire on 7 and 9 May, both by Israel forces.

(f) An UNTSO mobile patrol, while located at AMR l8ll-2787 , reported an exchange of artillery and mortar fire between Israel forces and Lebanese forces 25 May. It also reported a crossing violation by Israel forces on 25 May (maximum penetration 1,500 metres).

4. There were 103 overflights  reported during the period. Overflights by forces jet aircraft were reported on 2, 6, 9, 15, 26, 29, 30 and 31 May (one each] day),  on 18,  20 and 21 May  (two each day),  on 23 May (three overflights)  and on 25 May  (84 overflights). One overflight by Israel forces light  aircraft was reported on 19 May. One overflight by unidentified jet aircraft was reported on 4 May (United Nations military observers were unable to identify the aircraft owing to hazy weather conditions).

5. The Lebanese authorities submitted 64 complaints during the period under review as follows :

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

(b) Twenty-eight  complaints  concerned Israel forces jet  aircraft overflights Twelve of these complaints were  confirmed.

(c) Two complaints concerned Israel forces light aircraft overflights.  One of these complaints was confirmed.

(d) Three complaints concerned Israel  forces helicopter overflights. The complaints were not confirmed.

(e) Six complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces had penetrated Lebanese territory on 1, 10, 12, 13, 26  and 30 May. The complaints were not confirmed.

(f) Five  complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces naval vessels had penetrated Lebanese territorial waters on 11, 16, 20, 23 and 25 May.  The complaints were not confirmed.

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

6. Two of the complaints  referred to in paragraph 5  (g) and the relevant inquiries have been dealt with in two special reports (see S/ll663/Add.2 and Add. 3). The third complaint alleged that during the night  of 11/12 May Israel forces penetrated Lebanese territory in the villages of Yarine (AMR 1723-2789), Aita Ech Chaab and Bent Jbail (AMR 1908-2805), abducting. six Lebanese nationals and exploding one house with dynamite. The inquiry requested by the Lebanese authorities was authorized by the Chief of Staff of UNTSO. The inquiry took place on 12 May. Witnesses in the villages stated that Israel forces had abducted one woman from Yarine, two men from Aita Ech Chaab  and two men from Bent Jbail.  All five abductees were said to be Lebanese nationals. The military observers saw one destroyed house in Bent Jbail.  The complaint was  confirmed in so far as the destruction of one house was concerned.

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1/  AMR –  approximate  map  reference,

75-11330


Document symbol: S/11663/Add.4
Document Type: Addendum, Report
Document Sources: Security Council, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
Subject: Armed conflict, Ceasefire, Peacekeeping
Publication Date: 02/06/1975
2019-03-11T22:42:49-04:00

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