Israel declares red alert

2008-02-14 19:44

Jerusalem - Israel ordered its military and embassies to go on alert on Thursday, and advised Jewish institutions worldwide to follow suit.

Lebanese guerrillas have threatened to avenge the assassination of a fugitive commander tied to a string of spectacular attacks against United States and Jewish targets.

Israel's government swiftly denied involvement in the death of Imad Mughniyeh, killed in a car bombing on Tuesday in the Syrian capital of Damascus, although military officials were more vague, refusing to confirm or deny involvement.

Israel's interest in seeing Mughniyeh dead left his Hezbollah militia, its Iranian backers and others pointing a finger at the Jewish state.

On Thursday, Hezbollah's chief vowed to retaliate against Israeli targets abroad, and the Jewish state beefed up its troop presence along the Lebanese border.

One of the world's most-wanted and elusive terrorists, the 45-year-old Mughniyeh was the suspected mastermind of attacks that killed hundreds of Americans, including 241 US Marines, in Lebanon and the brutal kidnappings of Westerners in the 1980s.

Forces put on alert

His trail of terror was believed to have extended into the 1990s, with the bombing of the Israeli embassy in Argentina, a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires and an attack on foreign military housing in Saudi Arabia. Dozens died in those attacks.

In Israel, military chief Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi put 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 military sent more troops to the already heavily patrolled northern border with Lebanon, said defence officials, without elaborating.

And, soldiers were ordered to be on guard for attacks and kidnappings on both the border with Lebanon and in the Palestinian territories.

Aircraft, ship security raised

Israeli embassies worldwide also were put on alert, and Israeli security advised Jewish institutions across the globe to be vigilant, said officials on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss security matters with the press. Israel's Foreign Ministry would not comment.

Revenge might not be immediate

Israel Radio reported that security had been raised on aircraft and ships and at sensitive installations.

"There is no doubt Hezbollah and its Iranian masters, who had excellent relations with Mughniyeh, have long memories and will demand revenge," wrote military analyst Yossi Melman in the Haaretz newspaper. "It will not necessarily come immediately in a reflex action."

But while Israelis worried about the possibility of renewed war on their turf, Hezbollah chief Sheik Hassan Nasrallah declared on Thursday that his guerrilla group would hit Israeli targets abroad.

- AP