LEBANON: ISRAELI OVERFLIGHTS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 003602 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/FO:ATACHCO E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016 TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL LE IS SUBJECT: LEBANON: ISRAELI OVERFLIGHTS Classified By: Jeffrey D. Feltman, Ambassador. Reason: Section 1.4 (d ). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) October saw a notable increase in the number and intensity of Israeli overflights in Lebanese airspace. The overflights were noted with indignation by politicians and the press, and documented by UNIFIL. According to our contacts, the IAF has conducted the flights beyond the south, including the Biqa' Valley area and Beirut, and there has been an increased use of low-level reconnaissance flights and reports of "mock attacks." The continued overflights are politically embarrassing to the Lebanese government, and have been seen as a reflection of UNIFIL's ability to enforce the terms of UNSC Resolution 1701. Pressure is building from the EU, the UN and the GOL to find a way to curb the frequency of overflights. End Summary. INCREASE IN FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY OF ISRAELI OVERFLIGHTS -------------- ¶2. (C) October saw a marked increase in overflights by Israeli combat jets into Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported 52 separate overflights in October; with 31 reported in the last two weeks of the month. In comparison, UNIFIL reported 33 overflights for all of September. Our contacts tell us that what started out as high-altitude flights monitoring the border area in southern Lebanon after the conflict has now grown into a variety of overflights, including overt low-level reconnaissance flights. The Foreign Ministry shared with us its records for October indicating 43 overflights, of which 11 were by "jet warplanes," 31 by "surveillance planes" and 1 by a helicopter. ¶3. (C) Drawing extra concern has been the reported development of what observers insist are "mock attack" flights over the Biqa' Valley area and Beirut. Whatever these flights are, these low-level flyovers have created resentment among those who see the flights as an attempt by Israel to intimidate or humiliate Lebanon. Some have speculated that the Israelis are using the low-level flights to exert pressure on the Lebanese government to do more in gaining the release of the two Israeli soldiers captured by Hizballah, rather than for surveillance. Statements in the Israeli press about "training missions" over Lebanon have been widely reported in the Lebanese media. ¶4. (C) The overflights are widely seen as weakening the Siniora government politically, in the face of the opposition criticism that the Siniora government cannot defend Lebanon's borders and airspace. The Prime Minister has told us that he sees any overflight is a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. UNIFIL'S CONCERNS GROWING LOUDER -------------- ¶5. (S) Early after the July-August war, UNIFIL officers told us that their organization took a behind-the-scenes approach with Israel, reasoning that public attention to the overflights might call into question UNIFIL,s ability to enforce the terms of Resolution 1701. As overflights have increased, UNIFIL has put forward a much more vigorous public approach to confront the Israelis. Recently, UNIFIL Force Commander Major-General Alain Pellegrini publicly voiced his serious concern over the increasing number of overflights taking place over the areas of UNIFIL operations. Pellegrini hinted at changing the rules of engagement for his forces to allow the use of force to stop overflights. (Note: Whatever the appeal locally of Pellegrini's statement, UN officials have publicly indicated that only UN headquarters has the authority to change the rules of engagement. End Note.) ¶6. (S) According to UNIFIL, the Israelis indicate that the increase in overflights has served to monitor increasing arms smuggling. UN Representative Geir Pedersen countered Israel's rationale for the flights by stating that if the Israelis are "gathering such information via overflights they should share it with the UN so that UNIFIL can address it." (Note: UNIFIL's area of operation is from the Litani river BEIRUT 00003602 002 OF 002 south to the UN-demarcated "blue line" that confirmed Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. The Biqa' Valley along the Syrian border, the site of a great deal of reported smuggling, is outside UNIFIL's area of operation. End Note.) ¶7. (S) UNIFIL has recognized the sensitivity of the Lebanese government's political situation and also the need to avoid any potential incident involving retaliation from either side. UNIFIL has increased the diplomatic pressure, in conjunction with the European Union, to try to convince the GOI that the overflights are counter-productive and may serve Hizballah's interests by giving them an excuse not to comply with Resolution 1701. Some of this may have had an effect; reported overflights were down in the first week of November. FELTMAN