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Israeli warplanes break sound barrier over Lebanon towns
BEIRUT (AFP) Oct 08, 2003
Israeli warplanes overflew the main Lebanese cities of Beirut and Tripoli Wednesday, breaking the sound barrier amid reports of a troop buildup on the border, Lebanese police said.

Fighter-bombers also buzzed the frontier districts of Shebaa and Marjayoun following cross-border exchanges which left an Israeli soldier and a Lebanese child dead Monday, AFP correspondents witnessed.

Israeli aircraft had violated Lebanese airspace to mount a controversial weekend air strike against an alleged Palestinian training camp north of Damascus, the first such attack against Syrian territory in nearly three decades.

Lebanon lodged a formal protest with the UN Security Council Sunday.

Israeli media reports said troop reinforcements had been sent to the northern border following the strike, particularly the eastern sector which includes the disputed Shebaa Farms district, the scene of sporadic clashes with the Shiite Muslim militant group Hezbollah.

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