Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz ordered the army to raise its alert level ahead of the elections scheduled for next Tuesday, fearing attacks aimed at disrupting the voting process, according to Israeli media. The "Wallah" website reported on Thursday that Katz issued instructions to strengthen military readiness "following a security assessment in which warnings and potential escalation scenarios were presented on various fronts, including fronts distant from Israel."
Strict Measures
He added that the army had taken strict measures including "preventing soldiers from leaving their bases, strengthening military operations rooms, expanding the scope of intelligence gathering, and raising the readiness level of forces deployed on the borders." He pointed out that "these measures come amid Israeli fears that hostile entities may attempt to carry out attacks during or before the elections to influence the voting process."
Multi-front Scenarios
"Wallah" quoted security sources who wished to remain anonymous as saying that Katz is continuously assessing the situation with relevant military and security authorities, amid regional tensions, particularly the confrontations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen, which "the Israeli security establishment fears could extend into a wider regional confrontation." However, the site confirmed that "there are currently no specific intelligence warnings regarding an imminent attack."
Political Disputes
The site quoted an Israeli security official as saying that military pressure on Saudi Arabia "is reshaping alliances and relations in the Middle East." Earlier on Thursday, Katz accused Israeli opposition leaders of undermining deterrence strength due to their criticism of his warnings and those of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding potential attacks during the election period. The Israeli elections are scheduled to take place next Tuesday.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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