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Hezbollah fighters carrying the coffin in the funeral procession of top Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyah against the backdrop of his picture in Beirut on Thursday. (AP)
Last update - 07:48 15/02/2008
Israel on terror alert, warns citizens of kidnap threat abroad
By Barak Ravid and Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service
Tags: Counter-Terror, Lebanon 

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a severe travel advisory Thursday to all Israeli citizens traveling abroad over grave concerns that Hezbollah will attempt to launch terror attacks or abductions, as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed to retaliate against Israeli targets for Tuesday's assassination of the guerilla group's deputy chief Imad Mughniyah.

Israel also ordered its military and embassies to go on alert Thursday, and advised Jewish institutions worldwide to follow suit. The U.S. has also raised its level of alert regarding Jewish institutions.

Israel on Wednesday denied involvement in the death of Imad Mughniyah, who was killed in a car bombing Tuesday in the Syrian capital of Damascus.
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The slain Hezbollah deputy secretary general was wanted by Israel and the U.S. for terrorism. Hezbollah, its Iranian backers and others pointed accusatory fingers at Israel following the assassination.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi placed his forces on heightened alert, instructing them to take the necessary precautions by air, land and sea in order to protect the northern border and other Israeli interests, the army said Thursday.

The military sent more troops to the already heavily patrolled northern border with Lebanon, defense officials said, without elaborating. Soldiers were ordered to be on guard for attacks on both the border with Lebanon and in the Palestinian territories.

"Hezbollah is accusing Israel again and again in the death of Mughniyah. Therefore, the danger of Hezbollah carrying out terror attacks against Israeli targets abroad is escalating," said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau also issued travel warnings against traveling in places abroad where there are high concentrations of Israelis, especially tourist attractions.

The bureau advised Israelis traveling abroad to be especially alert and pay attention to any abnormal occurrences. It also advised Israelis to avoid traveling to any Arab or Muslim nation that a travel advisory has already been issued for. Finally, the bureau stressed that Israelis should resist any seemingly tempting opportunity originating from an unknown source abroad, and refuse any unexpected gifts.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Thursday that Israel is capable of handling the threat posed by Hezbollah, remarking that "Israel has been under threat since the day it was established, and we know how to handle these threats and will do so now as well,"

Speaking during a brief visit to Washington, Livni added that "Israel's response to terrorism is clear. Israel is a strong country, the Jewish people are a strong people, and statement by one terrorist or another won't change that or send us into panic."

"Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, it has committed terrorism in the past, and it is trying to carry out terrorist attacks all the time," she concluded.

U.S. issues terror alert for Jewish targets

The FBI has put its domestic terror squads on the alert for any threats against synagogues and other potential Jewish targets in the United States in the wake of Mughniyah's killing.

U.S. law enforcement officials say there have been no specific threats so far against any Jewish centers.

On Thursday the FBI ordered terrorism task forces nationwide to reach out to community sources for any information about stepped-up Hezbollah activity following the Tuesday assassination.

A law enforcement official says this kind of high-priority order is not often issued to joint terrorism task forces. The task forces are located in about 100 cities around the U.S.

In Washington, the State Department said it was not aware of a specific threat made to Israel by the Hezbollah leader but condemned anything of the sort as alarming.

"As a general matter, those kinds of statements are quite concerning and they should be alarming to everyone," spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. "Quite clearly, Hezbollah has a long record of carrying out violent acts and acts of terrorism around the globe. You have a pathway of violence that stretches from Buenos Aires to Kuwait and a lot of places in between."

Unlike many Middle Eastern leaders whose speeches are riddled with idle threats, Nasrallah is known for delivering on his promises. In 2006, he promised to take action to free Lebanese prisoners in Israel, and in July that year, Hezbollah guerrillas staged a daring cross-border raid that snatched two Israeli soldiers as bargaining chips.

The incident triggered a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah, devastating south Lebanon. It ended with the Israeli soldiers still captive, and no deal for a prisoner swap has been reached since.

Related articles:
  • Hezbollah terror chief Imad Mughniyah killed in Damascus blast
  • ANALYSIS: Mughniyah death could spark Lebanese civil war
  • ANALYSIS: U.S. involvement in Mughniyah killing still uncertain
  • Hariri memorial, Mughniyah funeral set to divide Beirut residents
  • ANALYSIS: Question now is not whether Hezbollah will respond, but how
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      1.   It was an inside job, encouraged by Syria. 17:57  |  DejaVu 14/02/08
      2.   ... The causality of Israeli Terrorism. 18:15  |  POP 14/02/08
      3.   Security demands to be always on alert. 18:19  |  Jean Van Daem 14/02/08
      4.   rocket attacks 18:28  |  caroline 14/02/08
      5.   lmao 18:29  |  lmao at jew 14/02/08
      6.   If Hezbollah wants war they will get it.This time it will be over 19:04  |  Marwan مروان خوري 14/02/08
      7.   POP 19:04  |  Marc 14/02/08
      8.   Pop 19:06  |  Sarah 14/02/08
      9.   POP`s defense of the murderous coward shows his moral 19:09  |  Marwan مروان خوري 14/02/08
      10.   It was the duty of every nation to kill this terrorist 19:13  |  Marwan مروان خوري 14/02/08
      11.   Fat Duck..Shotgun loaded. Dogs are hungry. 19:19  |  Stephen. 14/02/08
      12.   Wise words! 19:25  |  Dutch Dirk 14/02/08
      13.   Dutch Jirk 19:32  |  Jabotinsky 14/02/08
      14.   human rights and UN remain silent about this threat?? 19:39  |  vik 14/02/08
      15.   # 12. Words of a coward.. 19:39  |  Stephen. 14/02/08
      16.   Not Bovvered! 19:58  |  Tricia Schwitzer 14/02/08
      17.   Dutch Dirk and your ILK!! Part 2 20:13  |  george W. Bush 14/02/08
      18.   SO SHALL PERISH ALL THY ENEMIES, O GOD! )))))))))))))))) 20:30  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 14/02/08
      19.   Ha Ha, there is justice 20:57  |  Rock Star 14/02/08
      20.   Why?.... 20:59  |  Rock Star 14/02/08
      21.   Nasrallah & Livni`s "brave" pronouncements? 21:04  |  curious 14/02/08
      22.   Israel never learned a damn lesson 21:05  |  Palestinian 14/02/08
      23.   You`re the one who likes terror! 21:05  |  Dena 14/02/08
      24.   God is not saving Israel; its nukes are, no god there 21:36  |  Secular 14/02/08
      25.   Hezbolah are majority of lebanon 21:38  |  Mary 14/02/08
      26.   to "palestinian" the data, facts, history do NOT support your ... 21:39  |  JJ 14/02/08
      27.   The Jews will survive as will the Palestinians 21:39  |  Fact 14/02/08
      28.   VOICE of MOSHIACH))) - He`s in Russia! What kind of Zionist? 21:41  |  Huh 14/02/08
      29.   Hassan Nasrallah (as Stalin), and Imad Mughniyah (as Trotsky) 21:42  |  ax to grind his neck 14/02/08
      30.   to palestinian 2 21:50  |  JJ 14/02/08
      31.   yahweh and allah ar talking to each other in 21:53  |  bozhidarevski bob 14/02/08
      32.   Israel strong? LOL!!!!! 22:02  |  Ralph 14/02/08
      33.   yeah sure,just like the last lebanon war 22:09  |  chaim 14/02/08
      34.   The weak islamists scared like cats seeing a dog 22:13  |  Johnny 14/02/08
      35.   Israel is F`d. I smell more war coming 22:13  |  POP 14/02/08
      36.   Palestinian 22:15  |  natan 14/02/08
      37.   DurchDirk-how are things in Amsterdam? 22:27  |  Stephen in New York 14/02/08
      38.   Palestinian #22, or maybe its you who havent learned a lesson 22:32  |  Johnny 14/02/08
      39.   26&30 JJ have you been reading Alan Dershowitz? 22:39  |  lakshmi 14/02/08
      40.   Israel has a new minister of defense? Livni? 22:50  |  Dutch Dirk 14/02/08
      41.   POP - You have it all wrong, as usual 22:59  |  * BEN JABO 14/02/08
      42.   #22 Palestinian - You`re tossing figures around 23:04  |  * BEN JABO 14/02/08
      43.   #24 Secular - No harm in having a spare 23:07  |  * BEN JABO 14/02/08
      44.   Dutch Dirk is a moron!!! 23:39  |  DR 14/02/08
      45.   thank you punisher 23:40  |  imad mughniyi spirit 14/02/08
      46.   Terrorism 23:42  |  Dik 14/02/08
      47.   #22, Plaestinian talks about lessons! 23:48  |  DR 14/02/08
      48.   # 22 23:54  |  dan 14/02/08
      49.   Israel know how to handle ....what? 00:02  |  se45f432 15/02/08
      50.   Israel knows how to handle ....what? 00:02  |  ef345 15/02/08
      51.   Who cares what Livni says or thinks?? Is she the PM now?? 00:04  |  Jew 15/02/08
      52.   Israel knows to handle.. what? 00:04  |  gray wolf 15/02/08
      53.   we`re not scared - we`re not scared - we`re not scared 00:09  |  whizbang 15/02/08
      54.   #22 00:14  |  Sarah 15/02/08
      55.   The View Is Clear From LA 00:16  |  Natallie Durson 15/02/08
      56.   Round em up 00:21  |  adam 15/02/08
      57.   Killing of Imad Mughniyah 00:25  |  Robert 15/02/08
      58.   For deterrence to work, enemy needs to be told what will happen. 00:27  |  Dr. L. Brnd 15/02/08
      59.   #46, #47 & #49 00:28  |  Hanna 15/02/08
      60.   Pfff 00:43  |  Jamal 15/02/08
      61.   #58 Dr L Brnd 00:44  |  Paul Wood 15/02/08
      62.   Natallie Durson: empty words 00:46  |  Rick Gross 15/02/08
      63.   We Are Armed with 400 Nukes 00:50  |  Dave Levy 15/02/08
      64.   Natallie Durson is not an American 00:50  |  leo 15/02/08
      65.   Mary in London#25 - the proof is in Lebanese media 00:57  |  William 15/02/08
      66.   #55 Natallie Durson 01:05  |  Sarit 15/02/08
      67.   Palestinian#22 - Palestinian lesson 01:07  |  William 15/02/08
      68.   BTW: Women`s studies solidarize with Hezbolla?? 01:13  |  Sarit 15/02/08
      69.   Secular #24 01:15  |  Neal