Israeli warplanes fly low over Beirut, suburbs

BEIRUT, Oct 31 (Reuters) Israeli warplanes flew at a low altitude over Beirut, its suburbs and large areas of south Lebanon today, witnesses and Lebanese security sources said.

United Nations peacekeepers and Lebanon say Israeli overflights violate Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in August.

Israel says its combat planes would continue to fly over Lebanon to ensure that weapons are not smuggled into southern Lebanon from Syria to resupply Hezbollah.

Security sources said eight planes entered Lebanese airspace from the south and flew north to Beirut and its southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.

Israeli air raids during the war destroyed large districts of the southern suburbs and several towns and villages in south Lebanon.

Reuters AB RN1409