Violations across the Blue Line – UNIFIL Press Release

UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON
(UNIFIL)
Naqoura,
22 July 2006

PRESS RELEASE

Heavy exchanges of fire continued along the length of the Blue Line in the
last 24 hours, with somewhat reduced intensity. A smaller number of
Hezbollah rockets were fired from various locations. The IDF continued the
shelling and aerial bombardment of the south, but also on a comparatively
lower scale. Early this morning, the IDF withdrew to the Israeli side from the
Lebanese territory in the area of Marwahin in the western sector. The IDF is
still present on the ground inside Lebanese territory in the area of Marun Al
Ras in the central sector. There were reports of limited reinforcements in
their presence in that area.

There were fifteen incidents of firing close to UN positions from the Israeli
side during the past 24 hours, including a direct impact from an artillery shell
inside a Ghanaian battalion position in the Marwahin area. No casualties were
reported, but there was some material damage. Thirty two Lebanese civilians

from the village of Marun Al Ras, who took shelter inside a patrol base of the
Observer Group Lebanon (OGL) for the last three days, decided to leave the
UN position at their own will this morning, and relocate north. In the last
three days, this position suffered direct hits by seven artillery shells on two
different occasions.

There are reports of local civilian population leaving their villages and towns
in the eastern sector from the border villages of El Addaisseh, Hula, Mays al
Jabal, Kafr Kila, Markaba, as well as from Marjayoun and Ibil as Saqy in the
last 24 hours.

The Lebanese government formally requested UNIFIL to provide
humanitarian escorts and assist in the relocation of the local civilian
population from some villages. UNIFIL has been in contact with the IDF in
order to ensure safe passage and to facilitate safe and orderly evacuation of
the civilians from these areas.

All UNIFIL positions in the area of operation remain permanently occupied
and maintained by the troops. Yesterday, UNIFIL re-supplied a number of UN

positions, including the most critical forward positions close to the Blue Line.
Additional re-supply convoys and some humanitarian supply convoys are
planned for today, but the ability to move will depend on the situation on the
ground.