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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman
March 22, 1999

On Behalf of the Chairman of the Monitoring Group

The Monitoring Group met on March 19-20, 1999, at the UNIFIL Headquarters compound in Naqura, Lebanon to consider five complaints of violation of the April 26, 1996 Understanding, two filed by Israel and three by Lebanon.

With regard to the Lebanese complaints concerning Zibqin and Jabel el-Butom which were part of the same military action, the Monitoring Group acknowledged that on March 17, 1999, following an attack against a military target initiated by a Lebanese armed group, Israeli aircraft and artillery fire directed at the source of the attack resulted in injury to a civilian in an open area of Jabel el-Butom and in damage to two houses and one car in Zibqin. The Monitoring Group concluded that this action constituted a violation of the Understanding.

With regard to the Israeli complaint concerning Bayada, the Monitoring Group acknowledged that on March 17, 1999, one 120 mm round fired by a Lebanese armed group impacted in the village, damaging two houses and injuring one civilian, in violation of the Understanding.

The Monitoring Group called on Israel and Lebanon to exert greater efforts to ensure that their military operations do not put civilians at risk.

With regard to the Israeli complaint concerning the discovery of side bombs by Israel and those cooperating with it in Arnoun on March 18, 1999, and the Lebanese complaint concerning the demolition, by Israel and those cooperating with it, of two houses and damage to two other houses in Arnoun on the same day, the Monitoring Group re-emphasized the importance of ensuring that civilian areas are not used for military purposes and the responsibility of both sides to fully respect the provisions of the Understanding regarding the protection of civilians and their property. In keeping with its previous decisions, the Monitoring group reaffirmed that deliberate demolition actions against civilian property and the placement of side bombs in civilian areas violate the Understanding. There was no agreement on the information regarding the Israeli complaint or on the incident of the two houses in the Lebanese complaint. The Monitoring Group called on the parties to further assess their information with a view to clarifying and addressing the situation.

The Monitoring Group expressed its great appreciation to UNIFIL for providing facilities and support for the meeting.

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