UNIFIL protests about Israeli flights over Lebanon

Yahoo - Reuters ^

[dmanLA]

Fri Nov 17, 11:45 AM ET

BEIRUT (Reuters) - French peacekeepers prepared to fire at two Israeli warplanes flying low over their position in south Lebanon on Friday but did not launch their missiles, a UNIFIL spokesman said. ADVERTISEMENT

Milos Struger said that during one of the day's 14 Israeli air violations of Lebanese airspace two F-15s flew low and at high speed over the area of Jabal Maroun where French troops are positioned, while two Israeli drones circled the area.

"UNIFIL anti-aircraft batteries took essential preparatory action to respond in accordance with regulations of self-defense," Struger told Reuters by telephone.

He did not say how close the peacekeepers came to firing at the planes and why they aborted the action.

"UNIFIL strongly protested to Israel over the flights which are unacceptable and in violation of resolution 1701," he said.

Security Council Resolution 1701 ended a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in mid-August.

UNIFIL and contributing countries have in recent weeks protested against several similar incidents involving Israeli aircraft and both German navy ships patrolling the Lebanese coast and French forces in south Lebanon.

[dmanLA]

I'd like to see them try...(to fire at the IDF).

[Right Wing Assault]

France, STFU! Don't worry about the planes. Just let them do their job and stay out of the way. You are just there to watch the show.

[GSlob]

Maybe the FReepers with AF experience could confirm or dispel this urban legend - I remember hearing that if a plane flies very low at a supersonic speed [and if its airframe could stand it] then the shock wave of that plane causes a lot of destruction and injuries on the ground. If so, then a supersonic pass at 80 feet over that french position would sort everything out beautifully, and no shots need to be fired.

[Brad from Tennessee]

The destructive power of sonic boom at low altitudes is in an Air Force report of experiments on the issue:

http://www.nonoise.org/library/animbib/animbib.htm

[Slings and Arrows]

"We vigorously protest your overflights, and if you do not cease...we will protest again!"

[GSlob]

It's mostly about startling the seals and deafening the guinea pigs. The legend talks about leveling the structures and breaking the bones.

[dr_lew]

http://library.thinkquest.org/12228/page6.html

Overpressure in pounds per square foot is used to measure sonic booms. Overpressure is the amount of pressure above normal atmospheric pressure.

* Normal air pressure is 2,116 psf or 14.7 psi.
* At 1 psf of overpressure, no damage to structures occurs.
* 1 to 2 psf of overpressure occur at ground level from aircraft flying at supersonic speeds at normal operating altitudes. Overpressure above 1.5 psf is irritating to people.
* At 2 to 5 psf some minor damage can occur to structures.
* As overpressure increases, the chance of structural damage increases. Structures in good condition can withstand overpressures of up to 11 psf.
* 20 to 144 psf are experienced at ground level when aircraft fly at supersonic speeds at altitudes of less than 100 feet. Such levels of overpressure have been experienced by humans without injury.
* At 720 psf damage to eardrums results. At 2160 psf lung damage occurs.

[Tom Bombadil]

Whatever about the booms, If the French start flinging stuff in the direction of Israeli aircraft, they are going to have a lot more to whine about shortly therafter.

The French play games, the Israelis don't.

[hnj_00]

from the same f'ckn idiots that have admitted syria & iran are re-armming the hezzbola in lebanon as the UN sits with their thumbs up their asses!!!

[Wuli]

And UNIFIL has lodged how many complaints about the rebuilding of Hezbolla missle launch sites and underground command and control bunkers??? None.

Oh, that's right, UNIFIL is there to support Hizbolla. Sorry, I forgot./sarc