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Last update - 23:27 20/07/2008
MI chief: Hezbollah may try to attack north soon
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: northern front, hezbollah 

Military Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin told cabinet ministers on Sunday that there is a chance Lebanon-based Hezbollah guerillas may attempt a terror attack on Israel's northern front in the near future.

According to Yadlin, Hezbollah views certain matters as unfinished business, namely the disputed border territories of Shaba Farms and the divided village of Ghajar, as well as Israel Air Force flights over Lebanon. Militants may use these issues as an excuse to carry out attacks, Yadlin said.

The intelligence chief also said that Israel's enemies are continuing to bolster military force out of concern that tensions in the region will escalate this summer.
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Yadlin added that Syria is feeling increased international pressure and isolation because of its continued military support of Hezbollah, amid an environment of renewed ties with the West.

Last week, Israel and Hezbollah completed a long-awaited prisoner exchange, in which Hezbollah returned the bodies of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser in return for Lebanese terrorist Samir Kuntar, four Hezbollah militants and 197 bodies of enemy dead.

Now that the exchange has taken place, the defense establishment is worried that Hezbollah may seek a calculated escalation along the Lebanese border, and try to disrupt Israel Air Force flyovers in Lebanese airspace.

Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah declared last Wednesday, Appearing alongside Samir Kuntar on the day of the prisoner exchange, that his organization would now try to free the Lebanese land still occupied by Israel.

"Our worry now is to free the rest of our lands ... protect our water and our sovereignty and our honor," Nasrallah said, calling the prisoner release a victory for the resistance.

Hezbollah on Saturday also announced it would attempt to kidnap Israeli soldiers again, according to statements made by the deputy head of the Lebanese Shi'ite militia, Sheikh Naim Kassam, Army Radio reported.

Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti newspaper reported last week that Hezbollah has deployed sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles in the mountains in central Lebanon, in order to threaten IAF flights.

Israeli intelligence sources said it appears the organization is looking for new excuses to clash with Israel, and that along with the fight for Shaba Farms (Mt. Dov), disrupting the flights could become another key area of operation. Until now, the IAF has enjoyed complete freedom of operation, which it used to collect intelligence.

Hezbollah identified this aerial freedom as its own weak spot - the IAF carried out attacks deep in Lebanon, and special forces reached the Lebanon Valley via helicopter.

Although senior military officers believe Israel still has substantial deterrent power over Hezbollah, they are concerned the organization is still seeking to "settle accounts" with Israel over the February assassination of Imad Mughniyah in Damascus.

Hezbollah blames the Mossad for the killing. There are general terror alerts for Israel and Israeli targets abroad, and Canada last month reported it had arrested five Hezbollah members seeking to attack the Israeli embassy there.

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      1.   New terror attack in the north means new war 16:52  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 20/07/08
      2.   This is not good news for lebanon 17:04  |  Rafa 20/07/08
      3.   the end of hizbullah 17:08  |  joe 20/07/08
      4.   Khuzabah 17:12  |  Baz Mann 20/07/08
      5.   Hezb is now part of Lebanon`s govern. No longer a rogue group. So 17:19  |  S 20/07/08
      6.   Iran proxi, distraction time, care less if Lebanon is leveled 17:20  |  Simon 20/07/08
      7.   Lebanon should free itself of Hezballah 17:22  |  Tzfonit 20/07/08
      8.   Hezbollah will have anti air missles 17:24  |  Ron 20/07/08
      9.   Hezbollah`s Next Attack Will Be Its Last 17:26  |  Bill Foonman 20/07/08
      10.   What do they have to lose? 17:27  |  Binyamin Dissen 20/07/08
      11.   Attack in the north soon. 17:28  |  Hal 20/07/08
      12.   There are Other Options 17:38  |  Bernie 20/07/08
      13.   Hezbollah 17:39  |  Beit David 20/07/08
      14.   #9 Bill Foonman heroics from the beach in Florida 18:01  |  Labhras 20/07/08
      15.   Attack from Hezb should be answred by a attack on Iran 18:12  |  BBQ 20/07/08
      16.   Bernie you embarass Lebanon 18:14  |  Ilan 20/07/08
      17.   Leave Nasrallah alone. He is enjoying life at the moment. 18:14  |  Natallie Durson 20/07/08
      18.   AG Mazuz would assure Hezbollah`s vicyory 18:18  |  Absolute Sweden 20/07/08
      19.   A war with syria is a war with Iran 18:24  |  Siad 20/07/08
      20.   #14 Labsass 18:26  |  * BEN JABO 20/07/08
      21.   Flyovers are not good 18:27  |  Nabeel 20/07/08
      22.   #17 NUTallie Durson 18:28  |  * BEN JABO 20/07/08
      23.   #8 Ron CA 18:30  |  * BEN JABO 20/07/08
      24.   Peace 18:39  |  Amir 20/07/08
      25.   Thank you Olmert, Peres 18:41  |  Bill 20/07/08
      26.   israel has no business flying over Lebanon,a violation of 1701 19:03  |  lakshmi 20/07/08
      27.   To # 19 - If Iran Attacks Israel... 19:08  |  California Bear 20/07/08
      28.   why does Israel keep these tiny spots? 19:15  |  Shelley 20/07/08
      29.   Why not ? with Israel at its weakest it has ever been 19:16  |  Dagma 20/07/08
      30.   Price of flyovers/Shaba must be peace treaty/recognizing Israel 19:18  |  Dr. L. Brnd 20/07/08
      31.   I didn`t think israel was THAT stupid. 19:18  |  Alan 20/07/08
      32.   "end of hezbollah" hahaha 19:24  |  Alan 20/07/08
      33.   israel is goin down 19:31  |  hassan 20/07/08
      34.   #9: only if you have the right leaders 19:40  |  TK 20/07/08
      35.   to#2 Rafa.. .trust U? Based on living abroad?! 19:43  |  sinalco 20/07/08
      36.   #17 Like Hezbollah needs to be "forced" to attack? 19:50  |  DesMnsDave 20/07/08
      37.   Israel could defeat hezbollah.. 19:53  |  Ephraim 20/07/08
      38.   Why can`t Golan Residents have dual citizenship? 19:56  |  Christian Arab 20/07/08
      39.   Israel has no right to fly over Lebanon 19:57  |  Lebanese 20/07/08
      40.   UNIFIL should be held as responsible as Hez if Israel is attacked 20:05  |  vik 20/07/08
      41.   Why isn`t Israel using its spy satellite instead of overflights? 20:12  |  Conroy 20/07/08
      42.   it will be their end 20:27  |  amos 20/07/08
      43.   AND THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT? 20:28  |  Ian 20/07/08
      44.   Joe - end of Hizbullah? 20:30  |  Palestinian Brit 20/07/08
      45.   And then again, maybe they won`t 20:54  |  Clickfool 20/07/08
      46.   Lebanese 39 Israel has every right to fly 20:54  |  ChanahS 20/07/08
      47.   hassan 33 20:57  |  ChanahS 20/07/08
      48.   #43 Ian, THANK YOU 20:58  |  Conroy 20/07/08
      49.   issue 29 - Dagma 21:02  |  Pavel 20/07/08
      50.   Israelis - Wise Up ( For Once) and Elect Bibi 21:05  |  Tod Zuckerman 20/07/08
      51.   #33 hassan, I`ve heard your blather for 50 years 21:09  |  Conroy 20/07/08
      52.   Lebanon War Part III 21:11  |  NYCGUY 20/07/08
      53.   Make it up 21:18  |  Mo 20/07/08
      54.   ChanahS 46 - What a funny logic you have :) 21:20  |  Lebanese 20/07/08
      55.   To Natalie Durson #17 21:38  |  Otto Rand 20/07/08
      56.   Civil war in Lebanon might be good idea. 21:42  |  Efroim 20/07/08
      57.   PRAGMATIC NEW POLICY REQUIRED 21:48  |  Solutionman 20/07/08
      58.   To Efroim #56 21:56  |  Otto Rand 20/07/08
      59.   welcome this 22:02  |  frenz 20/07/08
      60.   Before and After 22:13  |  Norm 20/07/08
      61.   to paddy at #14 22:13  |  yerushalmi 20/07/08
      62.   Lebanese 54 22:18  |  ChanahS 20/07/08
      63.   Shaaba, Syria and 1967 22:19  |  SNURDLY 20/07/08
      64.