‘israeli’ breach of airspace amounts to attack on Lebanon: Aoun
Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun says Israeli jets’ violation of the Lebanese airspace amounts to an attack on the country’s national sovereignty, noting that Beirut will lodge a complaint with the United Nations Security Council.
“Lebanon considered that the Israeli warplanes’ use of the Lebanese airspace is an attack on our sovereignty, and we will not accept any Israeli exploitation of our airspace,” Aoun said during a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
He was reacting to strikes carried out by Israeli F-15 warplanes via Lebanese air space on T-4 air base in Syria’s Homs Province on Monday. The air raids killed and wounded several people.
Russia and Syria say Israeli jets had struck an air base in the Homs province and that Syrian air defense systems shot down five of eight missiles fired.
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said the Israeli attack constitutes “an indirect response” to the Syrian army’s success in expelling terrorist groups from the outskirts of Damascus and other areas.
In two letters addressed to the UN chief and the Security Council chairman, the ministry stressed that the Israeli aggression would not have been possible without the US support.
Damascus further warned Israel of the “dangerous repercussions” of its assaults on Syria and its constant support for armed terror outfits.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Lebanese president said, “We condemn any Israeli attack on any Arab state.”
“Lebanon will file a complaint against the Israeli violation of the Lebanese sovereignty, before the UN Security Council,” he pointed out.
Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry had earlier announced its intention to take the issue to the Security Council.
Lebanon says it intends to lodge a complaint with the UN Security Council against Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace.
Additionally on Thursday, Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil confirmed the complaint against Tel Aviv, saying the government needs to take a decision concerning the Israeli violations.
“Lebanon will file a complaint at the UN Security Council. A political decision must be taken at the cabinet and a military decision at the Higher Defense Council shall these encroachments violations continue,” he said.
Israel launched two wars on Lebanon in 2000 and 2006, in both of which the Hezbollah resistance movement inflicted heavy losses on the regime’s military.
Israeli forces and aircraft regularly violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and target Lebanese patrol soldiers. Israeli officials have even threatened another war on Lebanon.
