Israel foils Hezbollah attempts to kidnap Israelis abroad
In February, Hezbollah’s secretive head of operation, Imad Mughniyeh, was killed in a brilliant covert operation in the middle of Damascus; Israel denied any involvement, but the Lebanese organization said it would retaliate; Israel has since been worried about Israelis abroad being kidnapped
Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak yesterday confirmed that Israel security forces had recently foiled two attempts by the Lebanese militia Hezbollah to kidnap Israeli businessmen abroad. Barak made the comments while touring the South, and called on the public to act in accordance with warnings issued by the government’s counterterrorism unit.
Israeli officials on Monday made first mention of the foiled kidnappings. Haaretz’s barak Rvid writes that details are sketchy on the matter, and Israel’s military censor banned publication of some of them. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because no official statement had been made. Channel 2 TV said Hezbollah has cells in West Africa and South America.
The officials said the kidnap plots were stopped at advanced stages. On 20 August Israel put out an unusual travel advisory, warning that Hezbollah was planning to kidnap Israelis abroad. Last month, new intelligence on Hezbollah’s intentions to abduct Israelis abroad prompted the government’s counterterrorism unit to issue a warning to travelers, who were advised to take special precautions.
In its warning, the prime minister’s office Counterterrorism Bureau explained that intelligence reports suggested Hezbollah is planning abductions as revenge for the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh, the militia’s operations chief, who was killed in a Damascus car bombing in February. Israel has denied any involvement in the bombing, but the Sunday Times in London quoted “informed Israeli sources” that the Mossad spy agency carried out the car bombing that killed Mughniyeh.
Hezbollah has vowed to avenge Mughniyeh’s death by attacking Israel or Israelis abroad. The travel advisory was a general warning, applicable to the entire world, not any specific travel destinations. According to people within the intelligence community, Israel does possess specific information regarding the location where Hezbollah plans to attack. The Counterterrorism Bureau’s warning says it applies to all countries.
Last month, Israeli security officials warned Israelis living and working in West Africa that Hezbollah intended to carry out abductions there. In recent months, Jewish and Israeli institutions outside Israel have bolstered security in anticipation of a possible Hezbollah attack, as have Israeli aircraft and ships.
