'Israel plotting to assassinate Nasrallah'

A senior Hezbollah official warns that an Israeli plot to assassinate the movement's leader Seyeyd Hassan Nasrallah would "set the region ablaze". In an interview with the Arab language daily Asharq al-Awsat Nawaf al-Musawi said Israel was conspiring with "many states" to assassinate Nasrallah. "A decision was taken in Israel to assassinate Nasrallah, and many states have conspired with Israel on this front", Ynet quoted Musawi as saying on Friday. He said the assassination -- if materialized -- would "cause an all-out explosion," in the region. Based on the report, Israel is planning a large-scale military drill to simulate the army's plot to kill Nasrallah. "The resistance is addressing this military maneuver responsibly and seriously," the Hezbollah official said. The exercise, code-named "Turning Point 3," will reportedly take place on June 2nd. The Hezbollah leader, however, described the drill as part of Israel's efforts to mend its image, tarnished by a humiliating defeat in the 33-day war in the summer of 2006. He also said the resistance group would stay on high alert during the military exercise which would last for five days. The Hezbollah movement, which was attacked by the Israeli army during the war, says it is not seeking to wage war in the region but maintains that it will respond to any Israeli aggression.