Southern residents warned of ‘massive’ Egyptian assault across the border

Residents of southern Israel are notified by their local councils that the Egyptian military is planning to carry out “extraordinarily massive attacks” near the Egyptian-Israeli-Gazan border across from the southern edge of the Gaza Strip.

The planned Egyptian assault appears to be intended to target the Islamic State affiliate in the Sinai, which has been waging a bloody war with Cairo for years.

Egyptian tanks are also being spotted near the Gaza border.

מאז הבוקר: טנקים מצרים על גבול הרצועה. הסיבה לא ברורה pic.twitter.com/63sblFbzwC

— almog boker (@bokeralmog) May 1, 2018

“A bombardment is expected [to be heard] in our area,” the Eshkol regional council says in a message to residents.

The Israeli army confirms that it’s aware of increased Egyptian military presence in the area, but says it is an “entirely internal” matter that does not involve Israel.

— Judah Ari Gross