Israeli jets violate Lebanese airspace

Israeli jets have violated Lebanese airspace, breaking the sound barrier over several villages in the southern part of the country.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported on Sunday that several Israeli fighter jets crossed into Lebanese airspace at 10:30 a.m. local time (0830 GMT) and hovered over the southern town of Jezzine, located some 22 km (14 miles) from Sidon and 73 km (45 miles) south of Beirut.

According to Lebanese military authorities, an Israeli reconnaissance drone flew over the village of Naqoura, along the Mediterranean coast close to the border with Israel, on Saturday evening and left Lebanese airspace hours later.

Lebanon’s military often reports airspace violations by Israeli aircraft but does not usually open fire on them.

The United Nations considers Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace to be breaches of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the Israeli offensive against Lebanon in 2006.