Israel steps up security for possible Syria airstrike

Israeli soldiers walk near the border between Israel-occupied Golan Heights and Lebanon, on Jan 19, 2015. Israel on Sunday fired two rockets from the Israel-occupied Golan Heights toward a southern Syrian town, killing six Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, including several senior commanders of the military group, according to local press. [Photo/Xinhua]

JERUSALEM -- Israel stepped up security precautions along its northern borders for possible retaliation by Hezbollah over a Sunday airstrike that killed a number of its fighters, local media reported.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployed Iron Dome anti-missile batteries at several spots in northern Israel, the Arabic Sky News network reported Monday evening. No official IDF confirmation was available at the moment.

Although Israeli officials did not acknowledge the strike, the IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz said on Monday afternoon that the army is prepared and monitoring the developments in the region.

"The IDF is prepared, tracking all developments, and ready to act as needed," Gantz said at a military event, according to the Ynet news website.

Israeli media also reported changes in military deployment in the north. According to the Ha'aretz daily, the IDF did not let several units deployed along the northern border go on leave as planned. The IDF had also raised the level of alert in outposts along the Syrian and Lebanese borders, according to the Ynet website.

Furthermore, Channel 10 reported that farmers in the border town of Mettulah were told by the military to stay away from the border fence.