DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Conflict & Security

Israel on high alert for surprise attack ahead of Rosh Hashanah as threats span multiple fronts

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Official statement Ongoing story
  • Israel’s defense establishment has raised its alert level ahead of Rosh Hashanah, citing the possibility of a security incident on several active fronts.
  • Officials said there was no specific indication of an imminent attack abroad, while warning that Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Iranian forces have the motivation and capability to act.
  • The IDF conducted a surprise exercise testing readiness for a comprehensive war from Lebanon and Syria to Gaza, the West Bank and Israel’s eastern and southern borders.

Israel is entering Rosh Hashanah under its highest level of alert, with the defense establishment assessing that a security incident could erupt on any of several active fronts.

The holiday begins on Friday evening, and the October 7 massacre continues to weigh heavily on the IDF and the wider defense establishment. Defense Minister Israel Katz said that “the Iranians like to attack on Jewish holidays because they hate Jews,” a statement the article describes as childish in phrasing but substantial in its warning.

The National Security Council urged Israelis abroad to take precautions and recommended that tourists keep a lower profile. The article questions how practical that advice is in places such as Thailand, Vietnam, Greece, Cyprus, Miami and other destinations where large numbers of Israelis gather and Hebrew is widely heard.

The Iranians like to attack on Jewish holidays because they hate Jews.

· Israel KatzIsrael’s defense minister cited the perceived risk of attacks during Jewish holidays.

The defense establishment said there was no specific sign of an imminent attack abroad as of Sunday evening. But it assessed that Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad cells, along with Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps combat teams, possess both motivation and capabilities that could allow them to operate almost anywhere in the world.

Shortly before 5 a.m. on Sunday, the entire IDF was called into the surprise “Alot Hashachar 2.0” exercise. It tested readiness for a comprehensive war across possible fronts, including Lebanon, Syria, the eastern border, the West Bank, Gaza and the southern border.

The article points to a cluster of incidents within one day as evidence of the tension. In Syria, troops from the Bashan Division responded after three people approached the border fence from the Syrian side. The assessment was that they intended to plant a bomb, and IDF troops launched an armed drone at them, apparently killing one of the three.

The question is not whether an incident will occur, but when and where.

· Avi AshkenaziThe article’s framing of Israel’s assessment that multiple fronts remain active.
About this summary

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog