Israeli fly-over coincides with attack on Lebanese army
A day after the Lebanese army was ambushed in Baalbek on Dec. 2, Israeli aircraft violated Lebanese airspace in the same area, raising questions about a possible cooperation between Israel and Syrians on the border with Lebanon.
For decades, almost daily official Lebanese news sources reported on Israeli aircraft violating the country's airspace, from the south and west toward the sea, and even from the east and the north. However, the news announced in Beirut on Dec. 4 was more significant than before.
The Lebanese army issued a statement at noon on Dec. 4, saying, “At 1 p.m. on Dec. 3, an Israeli reconnaissance plane violated Lebanon's airspace from above Rmeish [southern Lebanon] and circulated over the southern areas Riyak and Baalbek [central Bekaa Valley], before leaving Lebanon’s airspace today [Dec. 4] at 7:25 a.m. from above Kfarkela, and at noon from above Rmeish.”
This news, however, was cause for concern in that the Israeli plane entered Lebanese airspace from the south before reaching the central and northern Bekaa Valley at the eastern and northern borders with Syria, which are areas rarely flown over by the Israeli air force.
Less than two hours after the first statement, the Lebanese army issued another statement, saying, “Around 10:30 a.m. today [Dec. 4], a drone flew over the Riyaq area and the army’s anti-aircraft fired at it.”
