Security forces were placed on high alert Thursday night after an army reconnaissance unit spotted a number of suspicious figures moving near the fence separating Israel and Lebanon.

Local residents were asked to stay in home while troops scanned the area for infiltrators.

Searches continued into the night although no suspicious tracks or signs were discovered by late Thursday evening.

Army intelligence suspects Hezbollah may try to kidnap a soldier or civilian in response to alleviate the political pressure it has come under in Lebanon from anti-Syrian political groups.

Over the past year a number of such alerts have been declared in anticipation of a Hezbollah offensive.

On November 20th of 2005, IDF chief-of-staff raised the level of alert near the border after receiving information of a nearing attack..

The following day Hezbollah attempted to storm an army outpost in the village of Ghajar. Several of its members were killed in the event while the IDF did not sustain any casualties.