To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the UN monitoring mission in Lebanon on the extent of (a) military incursions into Israel from the Lebanese side of the Lebanon/Israel border, (b) military manoeuvres by Hezbollah or other armed groups along Lebanon's border with Israel and (c) Hezbollah or other Lebanese military activity in the Sheba’a Farms area in the last six months. (153684)

The UN Secretary-General reports to the Security Council on a quarterly basis on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701. The last two reports, produced in March and June, cover the period of the last six months. The UK continues to support full implementation of UNSCR 1701.

These reports describe several incidents along the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon. On 17 June several Katuysha Rockets were fired from Lebanon towards northern Israel, in violation of UNSCR 1701. Two of these rockets landed in the Israeli town of Kiryat Shemona. It is not known who was responsible for this attack.

The Secretary-General’s reports also note the activities of militant groups in south Lebanon. Most significantly six Spanish soldiers serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were killed by a roadside bomb on 24 June. It is not known who was responsible for this attack. The Secretary-General’s report also confirms that there is no evidence of Hezbollah military activity in the UNIFIL area of operations.

We have received no reports from the UN of Hezbollah or Lebanese army activity in the Sheba’a Farms in the last six months.

I have arranged for copies of both of the most recent Secretary-General’s reports on UNSCR 1701 to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the UN monitoring mission in Lebanon on the extent of (a) Israeli military overflights across Lebanon's border with Israel, (b) other Israeli military manoeuvres along the Lebanon/Israel border and (c) Israeli military activity in the Sheba’a Farms area in the last six months. (153685)

The UN Secretary-General reports to the Security Council on a quarterly basis on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701. The last two reports, produced in March and June, cover the period of the last six months. The UK continues to support full implementation of UNSCR 1701 and is working with the Governments of Lebanon and Israel towards this.

In these reports the Secretary-General reported that Israel has continued regular overflights of Lebanese territory with both manned and unmanned aircraft. The number of these overflights reduced in early 2007, but has risen again recently. These flights occur on an almost daily basis with up to 32 overflights occurring on some days.

The Secretary-General also reported several breaches of the Blue Line that separates Israel and Lebanon. The most serious of these occurred in February when Israeli and Lebanese forces exchanged fire across the Blue Line during an Israeli incursion into Lebanon. Another incursion occurred on 28 May when Israeli vehicles also moved 60 metres into Lebanon. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claim that this incursion was unintentional. Nevertheless there has been some progress on co-operation between the IDF, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon and the Lebanese army through the tripartite mechanism. This co-operation is aimed at minimising breaches of the Blue Line.

The reports do not record in detail instances of IDF activity in the Sheba’a farms area. The IDF did arrest some hunters who had strayed into this area, although they were subsequently released.

I have arranged for copies of the both of the most recent Secretary-General’s reports on UNSCR 1701 to be placed in the Library of the House.