Terror threat closes border

JERUSALEM — Israel closed its Taba border crossing to the Sinai Peninsula on Monday following warnings by its antiterrorism office of an “imminent” militant attack there and urged its citizens to leave Egypt hours before the start of the Passover holiday, when Sinai is a popular destination for many Israelis.

Soon after the announcement, sirens wailed in southern Israel alerting residents to a rocket attack. The military said a rocket fired from Sinai exploded in southern Israel but causing no injuries. The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility.

Yisrael Katz, Israel’s transportation and intelligence minister, said in a statement Monday there was information regarding a potential terror attack against tourists in the Sinai Peninsula. The crossing remained open for those wanting to return from Egypt.

The border closure comes a day after militants in Egypt bombed two churches, killing dozens of Christian worshipers during Palm Sunday ceremonies. In the wake of those attacks, Israel’s antiterrorism office called on all Israeli tourists in Sinai to return home immediately.

The Israeli government statement says that intelligence information shows “increased activity by Islamic State” militants in Sinai. It adds that with the Islamic State group losing ground in Iraq and Syria, there is renewed “motivation to carry out terror attacks in different arenas at this time.”

Israel issues travel recommendations based on intelligence reports. Monday’s warning was unusual in its urgency and it is rare for the Taba crossing to be shut down.