The Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group on Tuesday threatened to retaliate against the United States if it tried to capture its Damascus-based leader. "Violent operations will target all American interests if they attempt to harm the secretary-general, Dr. Ramadan Shallah," said Abu Ahmed, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad's armed wing.
Senior Islamic Jihad leader Khaled al-Batsh said the United States decided to offer the $5-million reward to bolster an Israeli campaign against the group following the Eilat bombing. "It (Shallah's capture) would unleash a new wave of violence and actions of legitimate resistance, and those who issued the decision will be responsible," Batsh told reporters in Gaza. |