Israeli forces say they have seized the Lebanese border village of Maroun al-Ras, an apparent base used by Hezbollah to fire rockets into Israel. Exchanges of fire can be still be heard in the village, said by Hezbollah to be the scene of an "epic battle". Israeli planes reportedly bombed Beirut and the city of Sidon early on Sunday, the 12th day of the campaign. Thousands of people have been trying to leave southern Lebanon and the United Nations warns of a humanitarian crisis. Its humanitarian chief is en route to Beirut, as the UN seeks to secure safe routes out for fleeing civilians. The UN's Jan Egeland said half a million people needed assistance - and the number was likely to increase. One-third of the recent Lebanese casualties, he said, appeared to be children. As concerns about hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians grew, Israel eased restrictions on Lebanon's blockaded ports to allow aid into the country.