Israeli jets fly over Lebanon despite withdrawal

MARJAYOUN, Lebanon, Oct 3 (Reuters) Israeli warplanes flew over Lebanon today two days after Israeli forces withdrew from virtually all of south Lebanon, witnesses said.

At least two jets flew in from Israel at medium altitude and headed north towards central Lebanon, the witnesses said.

Israeli forces pulled out from south Lebanon on Sunday except from the small village in line with a UN truce that ended a war between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas.

Lebanon says overflights violate Lebanese sovereignty and breach a UN resolution that halted the fighting on Aug. 14.

Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin told Reuters in Jerusalem that the overflights would continue to help ensure that arms supplies do not reach Hizbollah from Syria.

''Israel's redeployment along the international border does not negate Israel's right to self-defence and to assist in the implementation of the arms embargo, especially when it comes to the Syria-Lebanese border, an issue that has not yet been resolves as part of the Security Council resolution,'' she said.

Reuters AKJ DS1335