Hezbollah cell reportedly aimed at Israel

CAIRO, April 19 (UPI) -- A Hezbollah group in the Sinai in Egypt planned to recruit Muslim Israelis to smuggle supplies into Israel for terrorist attacks, an Arab newspaper reports.

Asharq al-Awsat, which is headquartered in London, said Egyptian investigators found detonators and explosives when 25 suspects were arrested. The newspaper said supplies for the smuggling were ready.

The group's plans allegedly included attacking Israeli and western tourists in the Sinai and attempting to disrupt traffic through the Suez Canal, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz said.

Israeli security agents have suggested Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was a primary target of the group, Haaretz reported.

Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, has launched attacks at northern Israel for decades. In 2007, Israel invaded Lebanon because of Hezbollah rocket attacks and the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers.

"Mubarak understands that Iran has turned Egypt and Sinai into a forward base of operations," a senior Israeli security agent told Haaretz. "It is no wonder he is concerned."