F16 fighter jet as used by the IDF. Photograph by Peter Mulligan
Israeli military aircraft are reported to have been flying low over Lebanese airspace, with some fearing that further air strikes are possible following the recent attack on a Syrian truck convoy near the Lebanese border.
The aircraft were described as flying for about an hour at low altitudes over areas of Southern Lebanon such as Hasbaya and Marjayoun according to local newspaper The Daily Star. These flights are a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 (UNSCR 1701) which helped to resolve the 2006 war between the two countries.
The Israeli air strike earlier in the week, was an apparent attempt to prevent weapons such as the sophisticated SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles being handed over to Hezbollah. These fly overs may have been further reconnaissance missions to make sure arms had not crossed the border as Israel had feared.
After the attacks on the Syrian convoy, Syria’s ambassador to Lebanon threatened that Syria had “the option and the capacity to surprise in retaliation”, with Iran and Russia also claiming the attack was a breach of the UN Charter. Syrian rebel groups also condemned the attack, possibly to prevent Assad the propaganda of claiming Syria was under attack from Israel.
