By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Trained terror activists and al-Qaida operatives have recently entered the Gaza Strip through the breached border with Egypt, head of the IDF’s (Israel Defense Forces) intelligence branch said Tuesday.
According to local daily Yedioth Ahronoth, in a briefing to the Knesset’s (parliament) Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Major General Amos Yadlin stated that “the breaching of the border along the Philadelphi route has enabled Hamas to bring back to Gaza activists that were sent to undergo training in Syria and Iran, including snipers, explosives experts and engineers.”
He added that al-Qaida operatives have also managed to infiltrate Gaza before Egypt resealed the border.
Commenting on the recent assassination of Hezbollah’s military leader Imad Moughniyah in Damascus, Yadlin warned of a possible, imminent retaliation against Israel.
“From past experience we know that many retaliatory terror attacks often come on the 40th day following such an assassination,” Yadlin was quoted as saying.
Moughniyah was killed in a car bombing in a residential neighborhood in Syrian capital of Damascus on Feb. 12.
Hezbollah accused Israel of ordering the assassination, but Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s office denied any involvement.