Israeli aircraft violate Lebanese airspace

Israeli aircraft violate Lebanese airspace
Wed May 1, 2013 11:38:22

Lebanon says Israeli military aircraft have penetrated its airspace, violating a UN Security Council resolution.

Lebanese military announced that an Israeli drone entered Lebanese airspace over the southern village of al-Naqoura, situated 91 kilometers (57 miles) south of Beirut, at 9:05 a.m. local time (0605 GMT) on Tuesday.


The unmanned aircraft carried out surveillance flights over areas in southern Lebanon before leaving the country’s airspace at 4:40 p.m. local time (1340 GMT) while flying over the village of al-Naqoura.


Later in the day, two Israeli fighter jets crossed into Lebanon's airspace over the southern border village of Kfar Kila, located 96 kilometers (59 miles) south of Beirut, at 12:40 p.m. local time (0940 GMT).


The warplanes flew over several areas in Lebanon before leaving the country’s airspace at around 4:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) while flying over the village of al-Naqoura.

 

Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes.


Lebanon's government, the Hezbollah resistance movement, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, have repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in clear violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.


UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the war of aggression Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Israel to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.


In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the United Nations, presenting over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violations of Lebanese territory.

 

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