Amal, the mainstream Shiite movement, considers itself to be in control of the area around Tyre, 48 miles south of Beirut, and it had guaranteed Colonel Higgins's safety in his travels there.

The United Nations, as well as the Red Cross, said it was unable to move convoys to the villages around Tyre to deliver supplies.

On Feb. 6-7 regular Lebanese army units numbering some 1,500 men moved into Iqlim al-Tuffah and positions around Zahrani, Nabatiya and Tyre.

Zimredda of Sidon, and Aziru of Amurru, previously allied with Abimilku, responded by conquering Sumuru and occupying the territories around Tyre.

Mark says the people had come from "...Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon."

Israel has been striking frequently in and around Tyre, saying that many Hezbollah rockets are launched from the area.

Hours before the cease-fire started, both sides carried out fierce attacks, with Israel launching air strikes in eastern Lebanon and near Sidon and shelling areas around Tyre and Khiam.

In southern Lebanon, at least seven civilians were killed, including two children, in a renewed wave of Israeli airstrikes that hit several homes around Tyre, Agence France-Presse reported.

Lebanese authorities in Tyre did not confirm Israel's assertion that Hezbollah's longer-range rockets were being fired from areas around Tyre.

The United Nations, as well as the Red Cross and other aid groups, said they were unable to move convoys to the villages around Tyre to deliver supplies or even dig out bodies buried under rubble.