Israel on high alert as end of Mughniyeh mourning period draws near

JERUSALEM: Israel has placed its security forces on higher alert, beefed up security at diplomatic missions abroad and advised Israeli travelers to put off trips to Muslim states for fear Lebanese militants will carry out a revenge attack at the upcoming end of the mourning period for an assassinated arch-terrorist, security officials say.

Hezbollah and its Iranian patrons blame Israel for the Feb. 12 car bombing that killed Imad Mughniyeh, a Hezbollah leader suspected of masterminding a series of spectacular attacks against U.S. and Jewish targets. The Israeli government has denied the charge, although military officials have been vaguer, refusing to confirm or deny involvement.

Immediately after Mughniyeh's killing, Israel briefly put its military and embassies on alert, and advised Jewish institutions worldwide to do the same, fearing a large-scale revenge attack. Although Israel has no information about specific planned attacks, a heightened alert has been ordered now, too, with the customary 40-day mourning period for Mughniyeh ending Saturday, security officials said.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not at liberty to disclose security plans.

Inside Israel, security forces have been instructed to be especially vigilant against possible attacks by Hezbollah cells in Palestinian territories, officials said. Hezbollah is already suspected of involvement in a deadly attack on a Jerusalem religious seminary earlier this month.

With the mourning period drawing to a close, Israeli missions abroad have been ordered to beef up patrols and carry out even more rigorous inspections.

The Shin Bet internal security agency has sent reinforcements to particularly sensitive targets, like embassies and representative offices, security officials said. They would not release any further information about the security measures.

Israeli Embassies, Institutions Abroad On High Alert As 40 Day Mourning Period For Imad Mughniyah Ends

Israeli institutions and facilities abroad have been placed on high alert following the end of the forty day mourning period for Hizbullah arch terrorist Imad Mughniyah. The Shin bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Mossad have advised Israeli groups traveling abroad to postpone their plans. Security details at Israeli embassies and consulates have been beefed up and placed on alert. Among the countries the security establishment considers dangerous and advises Israelis to refrain from visiting are Cyprus,Venezuela, Angola, Malaysia, Indonesia and Mauritania.

The fact that Syria has refrained from commenting or responding to Mughniyah's death also baffles the Israeli security establishment. Israel recently warned Syria through a third party that it would hold Damascus accountable for any Hizbullah attacks. Unnamed Israeli and European sources were quoted as saying that the warning stemmed mainly from Israel who is concerned that Hizbullah may consider launching a major attack in response to Israel’s offenive in the Gaza Strip. After the group's senior commander, Imad Mughniyah, was killed in a bombing in Damascus, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah threatened Israel with "open war".

- http://www.infolive.tv/en/infolive.tv-19818-israelnews-israeli-embassies-institutions-abroad-high-alert-40-day-mourning-per

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