Two Critically Wounded in Hebron Area Shooting Attack; Attackers Eliminated

Two individuals sustained critical injuries in a shooting attack carried out by two armed assailants near the Yehuda Junction, south of Hebron, on Friday morning. A total of five people were wounded in the incident. The two attackers, armed with M-16 rifles and a handgun, were killed by soldiers from the Home Front Command's Ari Battalion after a 20-minute firefight.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an immediate lockdown of all areas in Judea and Samaria and a siege on Hebron. Security forces have converged on the scene, and the IDF has surrounded Hebron and is operating within the attackers' homes. Two victims with moderate injuries were evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, where they are reported to be in stable condition and conscious. Another victim, with light injuries, was taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.

Initial assessments suggest the attackers originated from Hebron and arrived at a scrap yard in the area in a vehicle with Israeli license plates, surprising the young people present. Security officials believe the attackers were affiliated with Hamas and had planned a more lethal attack. A senior IDF officer told Channel 13 News that the attackers intended to infiltrate a settlement and carry out a killing spree, stating, "The results could have been even more severe."

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir held a situation assessment with senior commanders, including Maj. Gen. Avi Blott, commander of the Central Command. Zamir stated, "The swift action of the soldiers prevented an even more serious attack and further harm to civilians and security forces." A large quantity of ammunition was found in the attackers' vehicle, intended for a larger-scale attack. Zamir ordered additional forces to be deployed to the Central Command as needed.

In light of the high alert surrounding the upcoming elections, a full division is already present in the area. Maj. Gen. Blott is on-site with Maj. Gen. Meni Liberty, commander of the 98th Division. Despite numerous recent reports of planned attacks, the IDF had no specific intelligence regarding this particular incident, the lack of which will be investigated. Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the soldiers' actions and wished the wounded a speedy recovery, vowing to pursue Hamas terrorists and their handlers "anywhere and anytime."

The IDF is also investigating whether a photographer, whose close-up images of the attackers were widely circulated, had prior knowledge of the event. Magen David Adom paramedic Tzuriel Edri described the scene as "difficult" with ongoing gunfire upon arrival, requiring a bulletproof ambulance for evacuation. Paramedics from United Hatzalah also provided initial medical assistance at the scene.