Israel Raises Military Alert Ahead of Elections, Monitors Lebanon Front

The Israeli army raised its state of alert and readiness ahead of the elections scheduled for October 27, amid security fears regarding attempts to disrupt the voting process, while Israeli media reported military preparations for a new round of fighting with "Hezbollah" in Lebanon.

According to the Israeli website "Walla," Defense Minister Israel Katz issued instructions to the army to raise the level of vigilance and readiness, after presenting security scenarios related to the possibility of an escalation before or during the elections.

The site clarified that the instructions came against the backdrop of fears that hostile entities to Israel would attempt to interfere with the electoral process, leading to the adoption of strict precautionary measures.

According to the report, these measures include preventing soldiers from leaving their bases, reinforcing military operations rooms, and expanding intelligence-gathering activities.

It was also decided to raise the readiness level of forces deployed on the borders, in anticipation of any sudden security developments during the days preceding the vote.

The site noted that Katz is conducting continuous assessments of the security situation, involving relevant military and security bodies, to review potential threats and prepare to deal with them.

These assessments cover various fronts, whether land or air, as well as distant threats that Israel may face.

In a related development, Israeli media quoted a security source stating that the army is preparing for the possibility of a new round of fighting with "Hezbollah." It was not clear, according to available information, the nature of these preparations or whether they are directly linked to the election-related alert measures.

No announcement was made within the quoted statements about an Israeli decision to launch a new military operation in Lebanon.