Israeli troops are on full alert along the northern border with Lebanon amid warnings that Hizbollah movement is planning a major attack, following an explosion near Baalbeck in the northern section of Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, reported Haaretz newspaper.
The home of a Hizbollah demolitions expert was destroyed by a missile minutes after he and his family left the building, located in the Lebanese city in Baalbeck; they were not hurt, reported the Israeli army radio on Monday.
Lebanese sources report that the man is related to a senior Hizbollah sheikh who was killed in an Israeli Air Force (IAF) attack eight years ago.
Hizbollah has confirmed the report but has, so far, refused to divulge any details.
According to Haaretz, The Hizbollah's communications office denied the report stating that Hizbollah Secretary General Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah was in the region at the time of the explosion.
The alert status was further heightened by the infiltration from across the Syrian border - the first in many years - of a man who had apparently intended to carry out a terror attack in the region, said Haaretz.
Prime Minister Ehud Barak told the Knesset foreign affairs committee that Hizbollah is planning to attack Israeli targets in a third country.
"There is a need for great readiness," he said.
The alarm was raised around 3 a.m., when troops discovered a breach in the security fence along the border with Syria.
Widespread searches were mounted, and at one stage helicopters and armored vehicles were brought in.
The area was sealed off and roadblocks set up. A few hours later, a man was seen running on open ground and a chase ensued, but he managed to evade capture, according to Haaretz - Albawaba.com
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