U.S. Homeland Security Chief: Hizbullah Greater Threat than Qaida

U.S. Homeland Security Chief: Hizbullah Greater Threat than Qaida

U.S. Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff has warned that Hizbullah "makes al-Qaida look like a minor league team," and poses the greatest threat to national security.

"Someone described Hizbullah like the A-team of terrorists in terms of capabilities, in terms of range of weapons they have, in terms of internal discipline," Chertoff told FOX News Thursday. "To be honest, they make al-Qaida look like a minor league team.

"They have been more disciplined, and they”ve been in some senses more restrained in the kinds of attacks they carry out … in recent years, but that”s not something we can take for granted," he warned.

Chertoff, speaking before the opening of a two-day security conference in Jerusalem, also warned of the threat of a terrorist smuggling a bomb aboard a passenger airplane.

"I don”t think we”re really worried about hijacking because we”ve put a lot of measures in place like a locked cockpit door, flight deck officers who have weapons and the air marshals," Chertoff told FOX News.

"So the next threat becomes the bomb. Something that either a person takes on board themselves or smuggles into the cargo," he said.

Nine countries are participating in the Jerusalem conference, including Britain, Spain and Italy.