Suleiman Condemns Israeli Violations of Lebanese Airspace, Urges International Community's Intervention
President Michel Suleiman urged the international community on Friday to pressure Israel to stop violating Lebanese airspace, saying its activities breach the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
Suleiman's condemnation comes after Israeli warplanes flew over Lebanese territories earlier on Friday.
"We question the U.N. Security Council, the U.N. and the powerful nations over Israel's activities,” the president said in a released statement.
"We call on the international community to pressure Israel to stop its attacks and violations and to commit to abiding by Resolution 1701,” Suleiman stressed.
“These infringement are an attempt to shake Lebanon's stability and are a continuation of the enemy's policy of threatening Lebanon.”
In a released statement, the Army Command on Friday said two Israeli warplanes crossed into Lebanese airspace at 3:15 p.m. and flew over the southern town of Rmeish, staging a circular flight over the South province.
They returned to Israel around 6:15 p.m. over the town of Alma al-Shaab, the statement noted.
The state-run National News Agency had reported earlier on Friday that Israeli jets have been flying at medium altitude over the southern Bint Jbeil region and the middle and western Bekaa sectors since 10:00 a.m.
In the afternoon, it added that the aircraft flew at a medium altitude and staged mock air raids over several regions in southern Lebanon.
Israel's violations of Lebanese airspace, some of which at low altitudes, have intensified in recent days.
Al-Manar television broadcast in March a video showing warplanes' contrails forming a ribbon-like shape in the sky over Beirut at low altitude, in a scene reminiscent of an aerial military exercise.
The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon had commented on these incidents, saying that it does not approve of Israel's violations of Lebanon's airspace and noting that UNIFIL will report to the U.N. Security Council on these violations.
In an interview with the National News Agency, UNIFIL Official Spokesman Andrea Tenenti said the Israeli overflights represent a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah.
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