Lebanon slams Israel over airspace violation

The Lebanese army has announced Israeli warplanes have violated Lebanon’s airspace at low altitude for a second time in a week.

“Four Israeli warplanes violated Lebanon’s airspace on Thursday, flying over southern Lebanon including Bint Jbeil and villages near the town,” the army said in a statement on Friday.

It complained that Israel’s regular flights over southern Lebanon constitute a breach of Resolution 1701, which ended a 33-day Israeli war against the country in the summer of 2006.

On Sunday, Lebanese anti-aircraft guns opened fire on four Israeli warplanes which were violating its airspace.

“The army’s anti-aircraft guns fired at four Israeli warplanes flying over southern Lebanon, Hasbaya, the Shouf and the Bekaa,” said the Lebanese army according to AFP.

One such incident last month prompted deputy Spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Andrea Tenenti to warn about Israel’s violation of Lebanese airspace. Tenenti said the incursions were in contravention of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

The incident follows last month’s threat of another war on Lebanon by an Israeli minister.

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman also asked France to pressure Tel Aviv to end its threats against Beirut.

In a meeting with French senate President Gerard Larcher on Wednesday, Sleiman said that Israeli threats affect the country’s economic growth.

He says Israel’s regular over flights into southern Lebanon are a clear violation of the UN resolution.