Report: Hizbullah goes on high alert

Lebanese newspaper reports Shiite militant group orders 50,000 of its fighters to prepare to ‘curb any Israeli aggression,’ evacuates most buildings used for non-military purposes in south Lebanon; US embassy asks staff to stay vigilant

Hizbullah has raised its alert level in southern Lebanon to the maximum, following the organization leader Hassan Nasrallah’s threats to retaliate against Israel for the assassination of Imad Mugniyah, Lebanese paper as-Safir reported Saturday.

Hizbullah claims that Mugniyah, the group’s top military commander who died in a blast in Damascus Tuesday, has been killed by Israeli agents.

According to as-Safir, Hizbullah has ordered 50,000 of its fighters to be on high alert, and has also evacuated most structures used by the group for non-military purposes in south Lebanon, in order to prepare “to curb any Israeli aggression.”

The paper also reported that the US embassy in Lebanon has ordered its personnel to exercise caution and refrain from using mobile phones. American nationals in the country have also been asked to remain vigilant and maintain constant contact with the embassy.

Arrests made in Mugniyah killing

Syrian security forces have arrested several suspects in the assassination of senior Hizbullah commander Imad Mugniyah in Damascus on Tuesday night, a Lebanese security source reported Friday. Link