Syria vows revenge for Mughniyah's death

DAMASCUS, Syria, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Israel will pay for the killing of terrorist mastermind Imad Mughniyah in Damascus and repeated encroachments, Syrian officials told Arab broadcasters Friday.

Israeli defense units were ordered on alert to defend the country's northern borders against possible attacks by Hezbollah and Syria, Debkafile, a Jerusalem-based Israeli Web site, said. Reinforcements were sent to northern Israel.

Israel received intelligence that Iran, Syria and Hezbollah would not let Mughniyah's death in a car bombing Tuesday pass without a response. Western sources at the terrorist's funeral noted the absence of Hezbollah's command echelon and Revolutionary Guards officers serving at Iran's embassy in Beirut, Debkafile reported.

Intelligence sources told Debkafile that Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, stood between Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Nam Assam and the slain terrorist's father and accepted condolences during Thursday's funeral in Beirut.