July 3, 2026 Categories: Analysis
Israel Preparing for al-Qaeda on its Borders
Since, then al-Qaeda has been gravitating towards Sinai, where the Egyptian military is struggling to maintain security. Days before the border attack, two long-range rockets were fired from Sinai, landing north of the Israeli tourist hub of Eilat.
The IDF's Southern Command, taking full note of the changes washing over the southern border, has been strengthening the army's presence in the area.
The construction of the border fence, together with a host of advanced surveillance measures, and the creation of rapid-response counter-terrorism units, are all included in the IDF's new deployment along the southern border. Intelligence efforts are focused on mapping out the widening terror network in Sinai.
Al-Qaeda's increasing shadow on Israel's borders may result in a rewriting of counter-terrorism doctrines. At present, al-Qaeda is the only terror network operating in the area with an absolute commitment to launching constant, immediate attacks.
Unlike Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or Hizbullah, al-Qaeda has no obvious return address and no territorial hold, making it that much more challenging for Israeli security forces to identify and respond to this emerging threat.
Originally published by Gatestone Institute http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org
