FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU
Israel braces for Hezbollah terror
Jewish state on highest alert after assassination of most-wanted terrorist
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Posted: February 14, 2008
12:15 pm Eastern
By Aaron Klein
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
Imad Mughniyah
JERUSALEM – Israel is on high alert today for retaliatory attacks after Hezbollah deputy commander Imad Mughniyah, one of the most wanted terrorists in the world, was assassinated yesterday in a car bomb blast in Syria.
Mughniyah, responsible for infamous deadly attacks against the U.S. and Israel, including involvement in the 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon, was No. 1 on Israel's most-wanted list of terrorists.
According to defense officials, Mughniyah was the most important Hezbollah operative, directly planning most of the terror group's major operations, including the 2006 raid of Israel's northern border in which two soldiers were kidnapped, promoting Israel's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon that year. The officials said unlike many other terror leaders who could be easily replaced, Mughniyah's death was a major blow to Hezbollah, explaining it would take years to replace him.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office yesterday released a statement denying responsibility for the assassination. An Olmert spokesman today added the prime minister learned of Mughniyah's death through news reports.
Still, Hezbollah directly blamed Israel for the bombing and vowed retaliation. In a recorded speech played today at Mughniyah's funeral, Hezbollah chieftain Hassan Nasrallah said his terror group was ready for "open war."
"You have killed Hajj Imad outside the natural battlefield," said Nasrallah, addressing Israel and referring to Hezbollah's claim it only attacks Israel within Lebanon or along the Israeli border in spite of multiple overseas bombings the group carried out against Israeli and Jewish targets.
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"You have crossed the borders. With this murder, its timing, location and method – Zionists, if you want this kind of open war, let the whole world listen: Let this war be open."
Nasrallah went on to speak about Hezbollah's "right" to "defend" itself and threatened "Mughniyah's blood will lead to the elimination of Israel. These words are not an emotional reaction."
Mughniyah's funeral, which reportedly drew tens of thousands, competed with another major rally held in Beirut to commemorate the three year anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, whose murder has been widely blamed on Hezbollah patron Syria. Hariri's assassination prompted mass protests and a Syrian withdrawal of troops that had occupied Lebanon for nearly 30 years.
High tension
Meanwhile, in Israel tensions were high as the country braced for possible Hezbollah attacks. The army has been placed on the highest alert along Israel's northern border with Syria and Lebanon. Checkpoints in the West Bank were reinforced for fear Palestinian terror groups would attempt suicide bombings to avenge Mughniyah's death.
Defense sources speaking to WND said it was estimated Hezbollah would try to target Israel overseas instead of engaging in border clashes with the Jewish state. They said Hezbollah has active cells in Europe, Africa and Asia capable of attacking Jewish or Israeli targets. To that effect, Israel's Defense and Foreign ministries placed all Israeli embassies worldwide on high alert for possible terrorist attacks.
Mughniyah led Hezbollah's "international terror branch," directly orchestrating attacks against foreign targets, according to Israeli security officials. He was widely considered Nasrallah's successor.
Mughniyah was accused of helping to plan the 1983 Marine barracks attack in which 300 were killed and also the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut the same year, killing 63 people.
He was responsible for the 1985 hijacking of a TWA passenger jet and the murder of one of its passengers, a soldier in the U.S. navy. Mughniyah was indicted for the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires killing 85 people. A warrant was issued for his arrest for the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy also in Buenos Aires in which 29 people died. Argentinean officials have publicly pointed a finger at Iran for aiding in those attacks.
Also, serving as commander of Islamic Jihad in the 1980s, Mughniyah is accused of kidnapping dozens of Western hostages, including Americans, killing some of them, such as the CIA's Middle East station chief.
According to foreign press reports, the Mossad reportedly tried to assassinate Mughniyah in a complex operation in southern Beirut in the 1990s.
Mughniyah reportedly lived a secretive life, routinely switching between locations in Syria, Lebanon and Iran. He is thought to have undergone multiple plastic surgeries and changed identities numerous times.
Former intelligence officials here praised yesterday's assassination. Danny Yatom, a former Mossad chief and current Knesset member, said Mughniyah's death was "a great achievement for the free world in its fight on terror. Mughniyah was one of the most dangerous and cruel terrorists of all time.
Yotan pointed out there were numerous intelligence agencies pursuing Mughniyah "and the one that was successful in reaching him [has proved itself] to have a high intelligence and operational capability."
He said the assassination proved the capabilities of the West in targeting Hezbollah anywhere, including deep inside Syrian territory.
Speaking with Israel's Haaretz news agency, Environment Minister Gideon Ezra, formerly a senior intelligence officer, stated, "I, of course, do not know who carried out the assassination of Imad, but he should be blessed."
