The Israel Defense Forces has decided to call on six battalions of reservists "to continue defensive efforts" in the security fence area of the West Bank, the army press office announced on Thursday.
"The Israel Defense Forces is calling for reserve battalions to continue defensive efforts in the security fence area in Judea and Samaria [Israel's designation for the West Bank]. The six reserve battalions will be called up in several rounds to ensure optimal deployment of forces," the military said in a statement.
"Some of the reserve battalions will also be deployed to replace units in the northern and southern areas [of Israel]," the press office added.
"The deployment of reserve forces will strengthen the army's ongoing defensive efforts to prevent terrorist attacks and illegal crossing of the security fence from the West Bank", the military said. "By decision of the Chief of the General Staff and taking into account the operational situation, some of the reserve battalions will be called up by special order," the press service added.
Israeli security forces have been conducting large-scale counterterror operations in the West Bank since April 10 in response to a series of terror attacks that killed 14 people in Israel in March and April. The army press office reported numerous shootouts between Israeli security forces and armed Palestinians during the raids; it said dozens of suspects of terrorist activity were arrested in the West Bank.
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Based on materials from TASS