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Israeli Warplanes Fly Over Southern, Eastern Lebanon

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Lebanese officials say Israeli warplanes have again violated Lebanon's airspace.

Security officials said Thursday, that Israeli fighter jets flew over the southern town of Naqoura and the eastern city of Baalbek. A large United Nations peacekeeping base is in Naqoura.

The international community has criticized Israel for such overflights. It says they violate the ceasefire agreement that ended a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

Earlier, the French Foreign Ministry summoned Israel's ambassador over a similar incident. French officials say Israeli warplanes aggressively dove toward French peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli embassy in France said the overflights must continue to prevent arms from being smuggled to Hezbollah.

French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said Wednesday the incident nearly caused a catastrophe. She said French troops were seconds away from firing anti-aircraft missiles at the warplanes.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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