Naqoura, 15 August 2006 - UNIFIL
carried out intensive patrolling during the night and this morning throughout
its area of operation to assess the situation on the ground and to monitor
the cessation of hostilities.
There were no reports of incidents or
breaches of the agreement in the UNIFIL area of operations until 1300 hours
today since the agreement on the cessation of hostilities came into effect
yesterday morning. The parties have ceased firing into the territory of
or at the other side, and there were no attempts to occupy any additional
territory.
The IDF has maintained their presence inside Lebanese territory in different areas. There were no significant changes in the position or strength of their forces.
UNIFIL continued contact with both the Lebanese Army and the Israeli Army with a view to facilitating an early withdrawal of the Israeli Army and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in the south.
UNIFIL made first assessments of the damage to the civilian infrastructure in the eastern part of the central sector of its area of operation. In the village of Tayyabah 80% of the civilian houses have been destroyed, 50% in the villages of Markaba and Qantarah, 30% in Mays al Jabal, 20% in Hula, and 15% in Talusha. In addition, the bridge at Ain Arab, and the bridge over the Litani River in the area of Al Qusair have been completely destroyed.
UNIFIL de-mining team from the Chinese contingent conducted controlled explosions of 36 unexploded ordinance in the general area of Kafr Kila, and two in the vicinity of the Ras Naqoura border crossing on the Mediterranean coast.
The IDF handed over to UNIFIL one elderly Lebanese civilian at the Ras Naqoura crossing yesterday. This move was coordinated with the Lebanese authorities. UNIFIL handed them over to the Lebanese authorities.
UNIFIL has been providing medical assistance and water to a number of local villages in its area of operations.