Alarms set off on Israel’s border with Lebanon on Tuesday night following a fear that a Hezbollah cell had infiltrated into Israel proved to be a false alarm.

The IDF initially stated that “a number of suspects were identified in the Western Galilee region near the border fence with Lebanon. The incident is under surveillance by IDF forces.”

Residents in the area were ordered to enter their homes, civilian security teams were deployed, and residents reported hearing gunfire.

After about two hours, the IDF stated that “after scanning the area, it was found that there was no intrusion into the territory of the State of Israel.”

IDF forces deployed along Israel’s border with Lebanon remained on high alert Wednesday after thwarting an attack by the Hezbollah terror organization on Monday and following threats by the group that more was to come.

“We have complex and tense days ahead of us. We continue to work to protect the sector,” the IDF stated after the incident.

Hezbollah will carry out its terror attack against IDF forces before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha on Friday, Israeli military sources estimate.

The IDF stated Tuesday afternoon that “in accordance with the assessment of the situation in the IDF, it was decided to reinforce the Northern Command with advanced fire systems, intelligence capabilities and special units.”

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security assessment and briefing with IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi, GOC Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram, GOC Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Tamir Hayman, GOC Operations Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva and other senior officials at IDF Northern Command headquarters.

Netanyahu again warned that he does “not suggest that anybody try the IDF or the State of Israel. We are determined to defend ourselves.”

“We will do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves and I suggest that Hezbollah consider this simple fact. Israel is ready for any scenario,” he said.

Jerusalem’s police on Monday carried out a large-scale operation in the Shuafat neighborhood in the eastern part of the city during which 13 suspects were arrested for rioting and attacking Israeli forces, the use and possession of weapons, and drugs.

The police raided a large number of targets in the refugee camp in an operation aimed at stopping offenders “who harm the security forces and innocent civilians.”

At one of the targets, the troops raided a house and seized various types of drugs, including ecstasy (MDMA) and cannabis.

In another location, the police seized a machine for the illegal production of weapons, various means of manufacturing and repairing weapons, and gun parts. A suspect assaulted the policemen during his arrest.

There is a prolific illegal weapons production industry within the Arab sector. The weapons are mostly made for criminal use but have been used in terrorist attacks as well.

Most of the suspects were arrested for rioting and throwing objects and Molotov cocktails at security forces.

The 13 suspects, two of them minors aged 16 and 17 and the rest in their 20s to 40s, were taken for questioning by the Border Police.

The police last year launched an operation to curb criminal activity and violence within the Arab sector, which has claimed dozens of lives.

The Israeli police have arrested more than 3,600 suspects for shootings, gun trafficking and the illegal use of weapons, more than 90% of them from Arab society.

An IDF drone that was on an operational mission on Sunday crashed in Lebanon, the IDF stated.

“During an IDF operation on the Lebanese border, a drone fell in Lebanese territory. There is no fear of information leaking,” the IDF noted.

IDF drones periodically crash in Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip. The small aircraft is used for reconnaissance and is not considered of great significance.

The incident occurred as tensions on Israel’s border with Lebanon are high as the IDF waits for a possible Hezbollah terror attack on its forces.

The IDF is preparing for a possible military response from Hezbollah after the group officially announced the death of one of its men killed in an attack attributed to Israel on Iranian targets in Syria last Monday night.

Hezbollah has previously threatened to respond to any death of its men killed by Israel, in Lebanon or Syria. This official recognition of the death of one of their men would require a response.

The IDF estimates that if Hezbollah retaliates, it will be on a low scale, as the terror organization cannot withstand a massive clash with Israel at this time.

However, it is preparing for all scenarios and a quick deterioration in the security situation in the north.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during Sunday’s Cabinet meeting that “Lebanon and Syria bear the responsibility for any attack against Israel emanating from their territories.”

“We will not allow our security to be undermined; neither will we allow our citizens to be threatened. We will not tolerate attacks on our forces,” he added.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Friday night attacked Syrian Armed Forces military targets in southern Syria in response to gunfire coming from Syria earlier in the day.

The targets included observation posts and intelligence-gathering facilities located in the outposts, the IDF stated.

The Syrian official SANA news agency reported that three points were attacked on the border in Quneitra, adjacent to the Israeli Golan Heights, causing two light injuries and “setting fires in the forests.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that four persons were injured in the strike, including two regime soldiers. The two others are Hezbollah-backed militiamen or non-Syrians loyal to regime forces.

“We hold the Syrian regime responsible and will respond to any violation of Israeli sovereignty,” the IDF stated.

The Israeli attack came in response to cross border gunfire emerging from Syria earlier in the day that caused damage to a car and a building in the town of Majdal Shams. No one was injured in the incident.

An IDF soldier was killed and an officer was injured on Wednesday in a car accident near the Har Dov outposts on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.

The soldier, Sahar Elgazar, was killed when the vehicle he was driving in overturned.

Elgazar, 20 from Moshav Renen in the south, was promoted to the rank of sergeant after his death.

The IDF officer, a first lieutenant, sustained moderate injuries in the accident and was evacuated to a hospital for treatment.

The military police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.