Israel raises alert before elections and prepares for Hezbollah

The Israeli army has raised its state of alert and readiness ahead of the elections scheduled for October 27, amid security fears of 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 Walla website, Defense Minister Yisrael 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 website explained that the instructions came against the backdrop of fears that parties hostile to Israel would attempt to disrupt the conduct of the electoral process, which prompted the military establishment to take strict precautionary measures.

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

It was also decided to raise the level of preparedness of the forces deployed on the border, in anticipation of any sudden security developments during the days before the vote.

The website indicated that Katz is conducting continuous assessments of the security situation, with the participation of the relevant military and security authorities, to review potential threats and prepare to deal with them.

These assessments include various fronts, both land and air, as well as the more distant threats that Israel may face.

In a related development, Israeli media quoted a security source as saying that the army is preparing for the possibility of a new round of fighting with Hezbollah.

It is not clear, according to available information, the nature of these preparations or whether they are directly related to election preparedness procedures.

Also, among the transmitted statements, there was no announcement of an Israeli decision to launch a new military operation in Lebanon.

These developments come in light of continued tension on the Lebanese front, despite the cessation of hostilities agreement that entered into force in November 2024, and the ensuing disputes regarding the Israeli withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese army, and the future of Hezbollah’s weapons.

Israel continues to stress the need to remove security threats on its northern borders, while Lebanon adheres to its demand to stop Israeli attacks and withdraw from its territory.

The measures to raise alert reflect the fears of the Israeli security establishment that any military escalation will coincide with the election date, at a time when the possibilities of confrontation on more than one front still exist.