The violation of Lebanese airspace by the Israeli Air Force is unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday after a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart.
Aircraft of the Israeli air force regularly cross into Lebanese territory, regardless of numerous UN warnings to stop airspace violations. Such actions are in breach of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a ceasefire in the 2006 Israeli-Lebanese conflict.
"We consider violating this resolution unacceptable, especially as far as respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and airspace is concerned. Regrettably this is a regular violation by the Israeli air force,” Lavrov said.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said over 9,000 airspace violation incidents by Israeli aircraft have been recorded since 2006.
In January Israeli military aircraft were spotted above southern Lebanon. According to Lebanon’s Daily Star newspaper, ten Israeli aircraft flew at low altitudes above the cities of Nabatieh and Marjuyun, imitating attacks on ground targets.
