Lebanon files complaint with UN over Israeli aggression

By Naim Berjawi

BEIRUT (AA) – Lebanon on Friday lodged an official complaint with the UN Security Council (UNSC) over the Israeli aggression on Thursday, according to a government's statement.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said Israeli warplanes violated the Lebanese airspace and flew at low altitudes over areas in southern Lebanon.

According to the statement, "a complaint has been sent through Lebanon's representative to the UN, Ambassador Amal Mudallali, regarding the Israeli violations and called for the necessity of deterring Israel from committing these violations again."

Lebanese Minister for Defense and Foreign Affairs Zeina Adra also condemned "the Israeli enemy's blatant launching of missiles from Lebanese airspace and targeting sites in Syria at low altitudes."

Earlier on Friday, caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab said in a statement that "the Israeli enemy's continued violation of Lebanon's sovereignty constitutes a direct threat to the UN Resolution 1701."

On Thursday evening, Israeli warplanes flew at low altitudes in several Lebanese regions and launched several missiles, causing panic among the residents of those regions.

The UNSC Resolution 1701 calls for a full cessation of hostilities and Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

In July, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon had called for a cease-fire and maximum restraint to avoid further escalation on the border between Lebanon and Israel.

* Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara