Israel has been accused by the UN of committing 550 violations into Lebanese airspace over a period of less than four months.

The global body was forced to issue a statement denouncing Tel Aviv following the routine violations by the Israeli Air Force.

Israel’s unlawful incursions in to Lebanese airspace are said to have increased dramatically. The Jerusalem Post reported that the Israeli military had increased its almost daily aerial actions in Lebanese airspace by 35 per cent from July to 24 October in what they say is a response to growing concerns over Hezbollah missiles and Iranian activity in the country and neighbouring Syria.

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A record 550 air violations, totalling 2,057 overflight hours, have been calculated by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which among other things, monitors the cessation of hostilities; accompany and support the Lebanese Armed Forces as they deploy throughout the south of Lebanon.

The matter was discussed in a report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which the Security Council in New York debated behind closed doors yesterday without any conclusions.

The previous report covering the period from 1 March to 19 June “recorded 456 air violations, totalling 1,518 overflight hours. Unmanned aerial vehicles is said to have accounted for 368 (80.7 per cent) of these violations.”

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