North: Alert level raised for fear of infiltration

The IDF raised the level of alert along the northern border with Lebanon after receiving intelligence tips that terror groups might attempt to infiltrate Israel.

Troops backed by helicopters are conducting searches along the western section of the border.

In addition, explosions were heard in the area. The IDF is conducting searches to check if shells fell in Israel. The Northern Command raised the level of alert a few days ago out of suspicions of an attack that Hizbullah will try to carry out, or attempts to kidnap soldiers.

IDF: Kidnapping soldier will be considered major achievement for Hizbullah

Residents in the western section of the northern border – Dovav, Kibbutz Sasa and Mitzpeh Matat – reported of helicopters in the air and intensive military actions in the last hour. The head of the Shlomi Council, Gabi Naaman, reported that in the last half hour a message was delivered to the alert room in the municipality to prepare for an event of operating. “The situation is very tense, we know of an event in the moshav Dovav area, but we suspect that it will not end there,” Naaman said.

Over the last few days the IDF raised the level of preparedness along the northern border.

Because of the preparedness northern command soldiers have been instructed to not move along the border, and all unnecessary actions were canceled; weak positions, like the Rajar village, were strengthened.

The IDF estimates that the kidnapping of a soldier will be considered a bigger achievement for Hizbullah than kidnapping a civilian, but the latter scenario is also on the agenda.

A senior officer in the northern command told Ynet that Hizbullah completed logistic preparations for kidnapping a soldier. The officer added that despite the fact that the army is positioned along the northern border, Hizbullah will abandon its usual fighting section – Har Dov – and attack actually in the western section.

Ahiya Raved contributed to this report