MOSCOW, August 5 The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has strengthened the protection of settlements on the border with the West Bank, fearing possible attacks by Palestinians, Galei Tzahal army radio reported on Monday.
Earlier, the head of the Palestinian Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran. The movement accused Israel of killing its leader and said that this attack will not go unanswered. The IDF has not officially commented on reports of Haniyeh's death.
«According to intelligence, terrorist attacks and illegal infiltrations into Israeli border settlements from the West Bank, organized by Iran and Hamas, are expected. The IDF has strengthened the protection of settlements along the entire border area to quickly prevent possible attacks,» the army radio reported.
Earlier, the New York Times, citing sources, claimed that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordered a direct strike on Israel in response to Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran. Later, Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeed Irwani said at a Security Council meeting that Tehran, in accordance with international law, reserves the right to self-defense in order to respond to Haniyeh's assassination whenever it deems it necessary. He also said that the assassination would not have happened without US intelligence support for Israel. Iran's mission to the UN called on the Security Council to impose sanctions against Israel for acts of aggression.