Israel Strengthens Border With Egypt

Preparing for possible attacks from Islamists

(Reuters) - Israel has boosted its rocket defenses near its southern border with Egypt to counter possible attacks from Islamist militants fighting security forces in Egypt's Sinai peninsula, Israeli officials said on Tuesday.

Violence in Sinai has surged since the army ousted elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on July 3, with militants killing at least 20 people in almost daily assaults in the area.

"We hear reports every day of attacks there and our concern is that the guns will be turned on us," Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said. "We have indeed strengthened our deployment along the border."