Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIRUT362
2006-02-08 13:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
MGLE01: PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE PROVIDES ITS
how-toVZCZCXRO9919 PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ RUEHMOS DE RUEHLB #0362 0391345 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 081345Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1883 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000362
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IS KPKO LE MOPS PREL PTER
SUBJECT: MGLE01: PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE PROVIDES ITS
STATISTICS ON ISRAELI AIR, SEA, AND LAND VIOLATIONS
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000362
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IS KPKO LE MOPS PREL PTER
SUBJECT: MGLE01: PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE PROVIDES ITS
STATISTICS ON ISRAELI AIR, SEA, AND LAND VIOLATIONS
1. (SBU) On February 6, the Office of Prime Minister Fouad
Siniora provided the Embassy with official GOL statistics on
Israeli air, sea, and land violations of Lebanese territory
since 2000. According to the PM's Office's statistics, 2005
was the year with the most Israeli air violations. The
statistics were compiled by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
and are detailed below.
2. (SBU) The PM's Office broke down the number of air
violations by type of aircraft: warplane, reconnaissance, or
helicopter. It counted sea violations as those incidents in
which Israeli vessels entered Lebanese territorial waters.
Land violations were divided into air strikes (air raids that
resulted in bombing),ground strikes (firing of tank rounds,
infiltration, or constructing military posts on Lebanese
territory),and "aggressions" (military non-building
construction on Lebanese territory and threatening with
weapons). (Comment: Most of the ground violations against
"military posts" are presumably Israeli strikes on Hizballah
and Palestinian positions. The military construction
"aggressions" would include Israeli construction in the
Shebaa Farms, since GOL considers that area to be Lebanese
territory. End comment.)
3. (SBU) For 2000, the PM's Office claimed 149 air
violations (87 warplane, 34 reconnaissance, and 28
helicopter),11 sea violations, and 57 ground violations (24
air strikes, 21 ground strikes, and 12 "aggressions"). The
numbers for 2001 were 459 air violations (346 warplane, 68
reconnaissance, 45 helicopter),39 sea violations, and 51
ground violations (10 air strikes, 19 ground strikes, and 22
"aggressions"). In 2002, the statistics were: 378 air
violations (212 warplane, 128 reconnaissance, and 38
helicopter),49 sea violations, and 65 ground violations (19
air strikes, 30 ground strikes, and 16 "aggressions"). In
2003, there were: 534 air violations (237 warplane, 210
reconnaissance, and 87 helicopter),157 sea violations, and
153 ground violations (21 air strikes, 85 ground strikes, and
47 "aggressions"). In 2004: 529 air violations (195
warplane, 236 reconnaissance, and 98 helicopter),288 sea
violations, and 234 ground violations (22 air strikes, 154
ground strikes, and 58 "aggressions"). For 2005, the PM's
Office counts 696 air violations (171 warplane, 445
reconnaissance, and 80 helicopter),215 sea violations, and
226 ground violations (42 air strikes, 141 ground strikes,
and 43 "aggressions"). In the month of January 2006, the
office counted 37 air violations (13 warplane, 17
reconnaissance, and 7 helicopter),10 sea violations, and 14
ground violations (0 air strikes, 11 ground strikes, and 3
"aggressions").
4. (SBU) COMMENT. It is difficult to verify the numbers
provided to us by Siniora's office. MFA North Americas Desk
Officer Ghady el-Khoury, assured us that only air violations
confirmed by the LAF were noted. Civilian sightings were not
included. UNIFIL only tracks air violations in its area of
responsibility in southern Lebanon, so its numbers are
incomplete, if perhaps more authoritative for the area UNIFIL
monitors. End comment.
FELTMAN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IS KPKO LE MOPS PREL PTER
SUBJECT: MGLE01: PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE PROVIDES ITS
STATISTICS ON ISRAELI AIR, SEA, AND LAND VIOLATIONS
1. (SBU) On February 6, the Office of Prime Minister Fouad
Siniora provided the Embassy with official GOL statistics on
Israeli air, sea, and land violations of Lebanese territory
since 2000. According to the PM's Office's statistics, 2005
was the year with the most Israeli air violations. The
statistics were compiled by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
and are detailed below.
2. (SBU) The PM's Office broke down the number of air
violations by type of aircraft: warplane, reconnaissance, or
helicopter. It counted sea violations as those incidents in
which Israeli vessels entered Lebanese territorial waters.
Land violations were divided into air strikes (air raids that
resulted in bombing),ground strikes (firing of tank rounds,
infiltration, or constructing military posts on Lebanese
territory),and "aggressions" (military non-building
construction on Lebanese territory and threatening with
weapons). (Comment: Most of the ground violations against
"military posts" are presumably Israeli strikes on Hizballah
and Palestinian positions. The military construction
"aggressions" would include Israeli construction in the
Shebaa Farms, since GOL considers that area to be Lebanese
territory. End comment.)
3. (SBU) For 2000, the PM's Office claimed 149 air
violations (87 warplane, 34 reconnaissance, and 28
helicopter),11 sea violations, and 57 ground violations (24
air strikes, 21 ground strikes, and 12 "aggressions"). The
numbers for 2001 were 459 air violations (346 warplane, 68
reconnaissance, 45 helicopter),39 sea violations, and 51
ground violations (10 air strikes, 19 ground strikes, and 22
"aggressions"). In 2002, the statistics were: 378 air
violations (212 warplane, 128 reconnaissance, and 38
helicopter),49 sea violations, and 65 ground violations (19
air strikes, 30 ground strikes, and 16 "aggressions"). In
2003, there were: 534 air violations (237 warplane, 210
reconnaissance, and 87 helicopter),157 sea violations, and
153 ground violations (21 air strikes, 85 ground strikes, and
47 "aggressions"). In 2004: 529 air violations (195
warplane, 236 reconnaissance, and 98 helicopter),288 sea
violations, and 234 ground violations (22 air strikes, 154
ground strikes, and 58 "aggressions"). For 2005, the PM's
Office counts 696 air violations (171 warplane, 445
reconnaissance, and 80 helicopter),215 sea violations, and
226 ground violations (42 air strikes, 141 ground strikes,
and 43 "aggressions"). In the month of January 2006, the
office counted 37 air violations (13 warplane, 17
reconnaissance, and 7 helicopter),10 sea violations, and 14
ground violations (0 air strikes, 11 ground strikes, and 3
"aggressions").
4. (SBU) COMMENT. It is difficult to verify the numbers
provided to us by Siniora's office. MFA North Americas Desk
Officer Ghady el-Khoury, assured us that only air violations
confirmed by the LAF were noted. Civilian sightings were not
included. UNIFIL only tracks air violations in its area of
responsibility in southern Lebanon, so its numbers are
incomplete, if perhaps more authoritative for the area UNIFIL
monitors. End comment.
FELTMAN