NAQOURA — Heavy exchanges of fire continued with increased intensity along the length of the Blue Line in the past 24 hours. Hezbollah fired a larger number of rockets from various locations, and the IDF intensified the shelling and aerial bombardment. The IDF has maintained their presence inside Lebanese territory in the area of Marun Al Ras, Bint Jubayl, and Yarun in the central sector. No ground fighting was reported since yesterday afternoon, but the IDF conducted heavy shelling in these areas, as well as in the area of Aytarun.

Intensive aerial bombardment was also reported in the general area of At Tiri, Brashit, and Tibnin, north of Bint Jubayl. There are a number of civilians who are still stranded in these towns and caught in the crossfire, including Bint Jubayl.

There were two direct impacts on UNIFIL positions from the Israeli side in the past 24 hours. Eight artillery and mortar rounds impacted inside an Indian battalion position in the area of Hula, causing extensive material damage, but no casualties. One artillery round impacted the parameter wall of the UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura. There were five other incidents of firing close to UN positions from the Israeli side. It was also reported that Hezbollah fired from the vicinity of five UN positions at Alma Ash Shab, At Tiri, Bayt Yahoun, Brashit, and Tibnin.

All UNIFIL positions in the area of operation remain permanently occupied and maintained by the troops. UNIFIL dispatched three logistic convoys to resupply some positions yesterday. Additional convoys are planned for today, particularly to the forward positions in the eastern and central sectors which are facing critical shortages of basic supplies.

The number of troops in some Ghanaian battalion positions is somewhat reduced because of the increased safety risk for the troops due to frequent incidents of Hezbollah firing from the vicinity of the positions, and shelling and bombardment close to the positions from the Israeli side.

It was decided to relocate temporarily all unarmed military observers of the Observer Group Lebanon (OGL) from the patrol bases in the area of Marwahin and Markaba to UNIFIL positions. An OGL patrol base in Marun Al Ras remained unoccupied following the incident of 23 July, in which one military observer was seriously wounded by Hezbollah small arms fire, and the OGL patrol base in Khiyam was completely destroyed by Israeli aerial bombardment on 25 July.

The remains of three military observers from Khiyam were transferred across the Blue Line to UNTSO, with the support of two UNDOF ambulances, yesterday. The search operation for the forth observer remains suspended pending the arrival of heavy engineering equipment to remove the debris and due to the renewed shelling of this location.

UNIFIL provided humanitarian escort and transportation to a group of 278 Lebanese civilians from UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura to Tyre yesterday. This morning, UNIFIL provided a humanitarian escort and transportation to a group of 332 Lebanese civilians from a Ghanaian battalion position in Al Duhayra to Tyre.

Another humanitarian escort is planned for today to transport 112 civilians from a Ghanaian position in the area of Alma Ash Shab to Tyre. There were also reports of convoys of civilian cars moving from areas of Ramyah and Yarin. UNIFIL hospital in Naqoura provided medical assistance to 19 Lebanese civilians. UNIFIL also provided assistance and escort to the civilian authorities to repair and restore electricity and water supply in the areas of Marjayoun and Ibil as Saqi.

Yesterday, the IDF handed over to UNIFIL one Lebanese civilian who was caught in the cross fire in the border area. This move was coordinated with the Lebanese authorities. UNIFIL handed him over to the Lebanese authorities.

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United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon