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Israel increases military presence along Egyptian border following deadly attacks

Xinhua, July 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) augmented its presence close to the Sinai Peninsula along the Israeli-Egyptian border following Wednesday's deadly attacks which led to the dozens of deaths.

The Israeli army raised its security alert level in the area fearing further attacks by the Islamic State(IS)-affiliates and deployed increased troops and is monitoring regional developments using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Israel Radio reported Thursday.

Israel also sealed the Kerem Shalom and Nitzana border crossings into both the Gaza Strip and Egypt, following Wednesday's attacks, and the military cautioned Israeli communities near the Egyptian border to be vigilant, fearing the warmongering would spill over into Israel.

Giora Eiland, former Israeli National Security Adviser, told Israeli Radio that there exists "genuine concern" that militant jihadists would overtake the Gaza Strip, alongside the Sinai Peninsula, adding that it is in Israel's best interest to maintain Hamas' control of the Strip.

Egyptian media reported that over 70 soldiers were killed in one of the deadliest attacks on Egyptian soil by Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, an affiliate of IS. It is estimated that 120 militants participated in the deadly attack.

The recent wave of attacks in Egypt come just as Israel and Egypt mended their relations, with Egypt recently nominating a new ambassador to Tel Aviv, indicating a warming of relations, which worsened during the rule of former Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammad Morsi between 2012 and 2013.

Israeli Military sources said they are closely cooperating on security issues with Egypt, and that they have not yet been asked to assist in Sinai, reported the Ynet news website.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended his condolences over the attack to the Egyptian population, saying that Egyptians are Israel's "partners" and that Israel supports Egypt in its "campaign against radical terrorism." Endite