The IDF deployed air defenses around the country on Wednesday and called up a few hundred reserves ahead of an expected US strike on Syria, but the moves were seen to be precautionary measures as the chances of a Syrian Attack on Israel remain low, a senior military source asserted.
As part of the preparations, the Israel Air Force deployed Iron Dome anti-rocket batteries in Haifa, Ashkelon and Eilat, and is set to place additional batteries in the northern regions of Amakim and Safed.
Even as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesay called on Israelis to carry on with their daily routines in light of a possible strike on Syria, the security cabinet pproved a limited call-up of reservists in vital military capacities.
The IDF deployed air defenses around the country on Wednesday and called up a few hundred reserves ahead of an expected US strike on Syria, but the moves were seen to be precautionary measures as the chances of aSyrian retribution attack on Israel remain low, a senior military source asserted.
As part of the preparations, the Israel Air Force deployed Iron Dome anti-rocket batteries in Haifa, Ashkelon, and Eilat, and is set to place additional batteries in the northern regions of Amakim and Safed.
"We'll take addition decisions down the line about placing Iron Dome batteries in northern areas, and possibly further south," the source said.
Patriot and Arrow 2 anti-ballistic missile batteries, which are deployed at all times, have also been moved around the country.
The security cabinet was briefed by Chief of General Staff Benny Gantz, as well as other senior defense officials.
The information presented at the meeting indicated a "low probability" that Syrian President Bashar Assad would respond to US military action by striking Israel. Nevertheless, the sources said, Israel was preparing for any eventuality, which explained the limited reserve call-ups.
One of the reasons for the "low probability" assessments of a Syrian response against Israel is the assessments in Jerusalem that Assad is cognizant of messages Israel has sent indicating that an attack on Israel would ignite a counter-attack that would bring his regime down.
Following the security cabinet meeting, the second urgent security consultation in as many days, Netanyahu issued a statement Wednesday saying Israelis need not alter their daily routine.
"The IDF is ready to defend against any threat and prepared to respond severely against any attempt to harm Israeli citizens," he said.
"We can expand the call-up if necessary. But this is not a wide-spread call-up," a security source stressed.
The IDF's overall state of readiness is at normal, he said. "We'll only change this when the US begins operating in Syria. There are no special orders from the IDF's Operations Branch, other than orders to frontline units to be prepared for the possibility of a cancellation of weekend leave," the source stated.
"Naturally, forces that are on the northern frontlines, particularly on the Golan Heights, will be on high alert over the weekend," he said.
The Home Front Command has urged members of the public to continue as normal. It reported receiving 20,000 calls to its phone lines in the past day, causing the lines to crash. "We've had far higher call numbers in the past. We will upgrade the phone lines," the source said.
Asked how the IDF assessed the chances of rocket fire by smaller terrorist organizations, like Islamic Jihad in Gaza, which reportedly threatened to respond to a Syria strike by firing on Israel, the senior military said, "There is no indication they decided to do this [realize their threats]. But the possibility of attacks by terror groups in Gaza and Sinai is also being factored in."
Netanyahu's appeal to the country's citizenry to carry on with their daily lives came amid a rush on gas mask distribution centers around the country.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, commenting on developments in Syria, said, "What we're seeing today is part of a historic event which occurs once in a hundred years. We're not involved in this and we're not getting involved. The Syrians crossed a red line set by the United States, prohibiting use of chemical weapons against civilians."
He added that the images that emerged from Syria in the aftermath of the chemical attack are horrific. "Human beings cannot accept a reality like this, but those who are dealing with this issue are not us, but rather the Western world under the leadership of the United States."
He said the cabinet decision to activate some precautionary defense moves are part of Israeli preparations for all scenarios, but stressed that he did not expect an escalation and that there was no need for panic.
"We must make preparations, but also to safeguard normal daily life," he said.
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