Lebanese FM tells Lavrov in Moscow IDF has flown planes into Lebanon 9,000 times since 2006, RIA Novosti reports.
By JPOST.COM STAFFLebanese soldiers311(photo credit: REUTERS)
Routine Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace are unacceptable, the official Russian RIA Novosti quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as telling his Lebanese counterpart on Tuesday.Lavrov was responding to claims by Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, who told Lavrvov during his stay in Moscow that Israel had flown IAF air craft into Lebanese airspace some 9,000 times since 2006.Lavrov said such "violations" were "unacceptable," adding that "Regrettably, this is a regular violation by the Israeli air force."UN resolution 1701, which brokered a cease-fire that ended the Second Lebanon War in 2006, called on Israel to withdraw all forces from Lebanon, and respect Lebanese sovereignty within Lebanon's internationally recognized borders.The Lebanese Armed Forces reported last week in a press release that it spotted two Israeli air craft violating Lebanese airspace.RIA Novosti reported according to a Lebanese newspaper that ten Israeli aircraft were seen flying at low altitudes earlier this year above the cities of Nabatieh and Marjunyun, imitating strikes on ground targets.The IDF has not commented on these Lebanese claims.Israel accused Lebanon of violating the cease-fire agreement last year, when shots were fired from Lebanon at IDF soldiers, who responded by firing back.Israel warned that the incident had the potential to destabilize the region.
