Hezbollah steps up rocket attacks on northern Israel

Lebanon's Hezbollah guerillas stepped up rocket attacks on northern Israel on Wednesday after a two-day relative lull, local media reported.

Over 80 rockets landed across northern Israel, including the towns of Kiryat Shmona, Nahariya, Safed, Maalot, Carmiel and Acre, local Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported on its website.

Several houses were directly hit by the Hezbollah rockets and firefighters said some buildings caught fire.

At least six people were wounded by shrapnel and 12 others were treated for shock, said the report.

Sirens also sounded in the northern Israeli city of Haifa and Beit She'an town.

Local authorities have warned northern residents to take shelter.

Hezbollah rocket attacks had dropped since Israel announced on early Monday a 48-hour suspension of aerial bombardments on southern Lebanon. The temporary halt expired on early Wednesday.

Violence between Israel and Hezbollah erupted on July 12 after Hezbollah guerillas captured two Israeli soldiers and killed eight during cross-border attacks.

Israel has waged a 22-day-old massive assault in Lebanon and expanded its ground operations while Hezbollah has showered Israel with rockets.

The Israeli army said that Hezbollah had fired at least 1,700 rockets into Israel during the past three weeks of fighting.

Source: Xinhua