OMM Newsroom
The Israeli army raised its alert to the highest level on Saturday and deployed tens of thousands of troops across several areas ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for Oct. 27, Anadolu Agency reported, citing public broadcaster KAN.
KAN said troops were deployed along the borders and on several fronts, including Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and areas around Jerusalem, three days before the vote.
Unnamed military officials said there was “no specific intelligence” pointing to an imminent threat, but forces were preparing for a range of scenarios to prevent a surprise attack from those areas.
Air defence systems also made extensive preparations for possible missile launches from Iran or Lebanon, although military assessments indicated the likelihood had declined.
The alert comes amid rising tensions in the West Bank after a shooting near Hebron on Friday killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others. The army killed two Palestinians it said had carried out the attack.
The military is due to hold large-scale exercises in northern and central Israel on Sunday and Monday, simulating a simultaneous surprise attack on multiple fronts.
