Israel Matzav

Hezbullah wets its pants

Hezbullah is accusing Israel of planning for the assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, according to a report in the London-based pan-Arabic daily al-Sarq al-Awswat. According to the report, the nationwide homeland security exercise that is scheduled to take place on June 2 is preparation for Hezbullah's response to such an assassination.

Israel is plotting to assassinate Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah, and its upcoming home front drill is in fact a general rehearsal for the anticipated repercussions of the targeted killing, Hizbullah senior Nawaf al-Mussawi said.

Speaking to London pan-Arabic newspaper Al Sharq al-Awsat in an interview published Friday, al-Mussawi was referring to the third home front exercise to be held in Israel since the Second Lebanon War in 2006 which, for the first time, will include the entire population. The exercise - called Turning Point 3 - will culminate with the sounding of a siren on June 2, during which civilians will be asked to enter secure rooms or bomb shelters.

Mussawi, who is running for a slot in the upcoming Lebanese elections, said his organization was taking the exercise very seriously, since Israel, with the help of other nations, has decided to kill Nasrallah.

Nasrallah himself warned his people on Monday night that the drill could mean the Jewish state is preparing for "a new and unexpected war."

While he said he had no information that indicated this was the case, he added that "it is a possibility that cannot be ignored." He spoke in a televised speech.

Israel is denying the story, and I think it's safe to say that the denial is accurate.

Israel has much bigger fish than Nasrallah to fry right now.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:41 PM