A number of mortar shells apparently fired from southern Lebanon landed in open areas in the Upper Galilee Tuesday morning, but no injuries or damage were reported, local newspaper Ha'aretz said.

Since Israel Air Force struck the launching site used to fire rockets to the Israeli town of Afula, no rockets of such type have been launched, Ha'aretz quoted a senior official of the Israeli government as saying.

Afula, about 50 km from the Israel-Lebanon border, is the furthest south into Israel that Hezbollah rockets have reached since the violence between the two sides erupted on July 12.

The official said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has destroyed an estimated two-thirds of Hezbullah's long-range missile capabilities.

However, the official added, Hezbollah still has the ability to launch rockets like those landed in Afula or even further into Israel.

According to estimates, Hezbollah retains 9,000-10,000 122-mm diameter Katyusha rockets and hundreds of rocket launchers. Most of the rockets launched to northern Israel in recent weeks were Katyushas.

Violence between Israel and Lebanon's Shiite group Hezbollah erupted on July 12 following the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah guerillas in cross-border attacks.

Israel has waged a massive assault against Hezbollah while the Lebanese guerilla group has showered Israel with rockets.

Source: Xinhua