Said Amori and Rania Abushamala
24 October 2026•Update: 24 October 2026
The Israeli army raised its alert to the highest level on Saturday and deployed tens of thousands of troops across several areas in preparation for possible security developments, including missile launches from Iran or Lebanon, three days before the Oct. 27 parliamentary elections, public broadcaster KAN reported.
The broadcaster said the army raised its readiness “to the highest level” ahead of the vote, deploying troops along the borders and across several fronts, including Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and areas surrounding Jerusalem.
Unnamed military officials said there was “no specific intelligence,” but forces were preparing for a range of scenarios to avoid a surprise attack from those areas.
Air defense systems were also making extensive preparations for possible missile launches from Iran or Lebanon, although military assessments indicated that the likelihood had declined.
The heightened alert coincides with escalating tensions in the West Bank following a shooting attack on Friday near Hebron that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others. The army killed two Palestinians it claimed had carried out the attack.
As part of its security preparations, the Israeli army will conduct large-scale exercises in northern and central Israel on Sunday and Monday, simulating a simultaneous surprise attack on multiple fronts.