Comforting

Yet frightening:

FBI Asks Terror Squads for Threat Data

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI put its domestic terror squads on the alert Thursday for any threats against synagogues and other potential Jewish targets in the United States following the killing of a Hezbollah commander.

FBI spokesman Rich Kolko said there have been no specific threats so far against any Jewish centers after Tuesday's assassination of Imad Mughniyeh, which Hezbollah and its Iranian backers blamed on Israel.

Still, the FBI ordered its 101 nationwide Joint Terrorism Task Forces to contact community sources for any information signaling ramped-up Hezbollah activity over the next month. Such high-priority orders are not issued often, but they are not considered unusual.

"The FBI monitors world events and continues to maintain a strong posture through the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces for any and all threats emanating from any terrorist group," Kolko said in a statement. "Although we have no specific threat information at this time, we remind everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities."

Intelligence officials said there are few, if any, Hezbollah guerrillas in the United States. However, the terrorist group has a fair number of fundraisers and sympathizers in the country. The U.S. considered Mughniyeh one of the world's most wanted and elusive terrorists.

The FBI order comes in response to a fiery eulogy Thursday by Hezbollah chief Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, who vowed to avenge Mughniyeh's death by retaliating against Israeli targets abroad.