Lebanon fires on Israeli warplanes

Lebanese anti-aircraft guns opened fire on two Israeli warplanes that were violating Lebanon’s airspace on Wednesday, according to a military statement. Israel’s planes flew over the Shebaa region of southern Lebanon at medium altitude, the Lebanese army said.

Reuters

While Lebanon reports Israeli violations of its airspace on an almost daily basis, the military rarely opens fire unless the aircraft fly within range of its guns.

The overflights are a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia.

Israel argues that the overflights are necessary to monitor what it says is massive arms smuggling by Hezbollah, also in breach of the resolution.