Israeli planes violate Lebanon airspace

Seven Israeli military aircraft have penetrated Lebanese airspace and flown over several areas of the country in blatant violation of a UN Security Council resolution.

An Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle entered Lebanese airspace over the southern village of al-Naqoura, located 91 kilometers (57 miles) south of the capital Beirut, at 8:20 a.m. local time (0520 GMT) on Sunday, according to a statement issued by the Lebanese military.

The remote-controlled aircraft carried out surveillance flights over Bekaa Valley region in the east before it left the country’s airspace at 12:40 p.m. local time (0940 GMT).

Two Israeli fighter jets crossed into Lebanon’s airspace over the southern village of Kfar Kila, located about 96 kilometers (59 miles) south of Beirut, at 9:45 a.m. local time (0645 GMT).

The warplanes flew over several areas in southern Lebanon and the capital Beirut before leaving the Lebanese airspace at 10:15 a.m. local time (0715 GMT) while flying over al-Naqoura village.

Two other Israeli warplanes entered Lebanese airspace over Kfar Kila village at 9:50 a.m. local time (0650 GMT).

The fighter jets flew over several areas in southern Lebanon and Beirut before they left the Lebanese airspace at 10:20 a.m. local time (0720 GMT) while flying over the southern border town of Alma al-Shaab.

Two Israeli jets also crossed into Lebanon’s airspace over Kfar Kila village at 11:50 a.m. local time (0850 GMT). They flew over several areas of Lebanon before leaving the country’s airspace at 1:25 p.m. local time (1025 GMT) while flying over al-Naqoura village.

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 over flights 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.