In another sign that renewed armed conflict between Israel and Hizballah may be on the horizon, a major Arab satellite network reported Sunday that the Lebanese army had begun pulling the civilian population back from the Israeli border.

Later in the day, a military correspondent with Israel's Channel Two News said that Syria and Lebanon are on heightened alert because they know that Hizballah is about to attack Israel or an overseas Israeli asset.

Hizballah blames Israel for the February assassination of its operational commander Imad Mughniyah, and has vowed to strike back.

Israeli government sources confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sent a message to Syrian President Bashar Assad that Damascus will be held directly responsible for any Hizballah attack on Israel.

According to defense officials, Syria is readying itself to hit Israel following the Jewish state's initial response to the imminent Hizballah attack.