Israel deploys Patriot system near Haifa

Israeli sources reported on Monday that the Israeli army deployed a battery of Patriot Missiles, made by the USA, near Haifa town in the northern part of the country, in fear of retaliation by Hezbollah party to last week’s assassination of Imad Mughaniya. 

The battery was put on standby on Sunday, wrote the daily Ha'aretz Monday, citing security officials.

The deployment of the system, the first since Zionist regime's 2006 war with Lebanon, is part of plans against Hezbollah, which has threatened to retaliate for the assassination of its top commander, Imad Mughniyah.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that a significant amount of money is being invested for the completion of the Iron Dome anti-Kassam system.

"This is applicable to both the northern and the southern fronts," he said during a Kadima faction meeting.

Olmert emphasized that the system was at an advanced stage of development with an investment of nearly one billion NIS.

The Zionist regime has also bolstered its forces along the northern border and its Air Force has been placed on alert.

Ha'aretz claimed on Sunday the measures have come into force because the regime is concerned about that Hezbollah may use an explosives-laden unmanned aerial vehicle to attack northern or central towns.

Imad Mughniyeh, who was one of the most prominent Hezbollah figures, was killed in a car bombing in the Syrian capital Tuesday night.