Israeli army mobilizes troops on all fronts ahead of Jewish holidays

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout and Mohammad Sio

JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL (AA) – The Israeli army has placed its forces on high alert across all combat fronts on the eve of the Jewish New Year, the military said on Monday.

“The decision was made to reinforce and mobilize dozens of combat battalions from all army units in training and deployment,” the army said in a statement.

It said the mobilization was intended to carry out “defensive and offensive missions on all fronts during the holidays.”

The Jewish New Year runs from Monday through Wednesday, followed by Yom Kippur on Oct. 1, and Sukkot beginning Oct. 6.

The Israeli army has continued a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, where nearly 65,300 people, mostly women and children, have been killed since October 2023.

Israel has also carried out strikes in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, killing and wounding scores and causing extensive damage.

It also waged a 12-day war against Iran in June, and carried out an airstrike in Qatar on Sept. 9 in a failed attempt to assassinate Hamas leaders.

Israel has occupied Palestinian territories as well as land in Syria and Lebanon for decades, refusing to withdraw or recognize a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital within pre-1967 borders.