Five Israelis Wounded, Two Critically, in West Bank Shooting Attack; Attackers Killed

A shooting attack targeting a military tower near the settlement of Telem, west of Hebron, on Friday morning resulted in five Israeli soldiers being wounded, two critically, one seriously, and two lightly. Israeli media sources reported that all the wounded were members of the Israeli military. The Israeli army announced that the two assailants were killed after a pursuit.

The Israeli army radio reported that the shooters were residents of Hebron in the southern West Bank. The military had initially received a report of a shooting near a junction in the Hebron area, stating that details were under investigation. Large forces were dispatched to the scene, initiating widespread searches.

Initial reports indicated the attack targeted a military tower near Telem. Soldiers in the area returned fire as the assailants attempted to flee. A short pursuit ensued, ending with the attackers' deaths near the site of the shooting. Magen David Adom reported receiving the initial call at 7:15 AM, with initial reports of two wounded, one unconscious and one with minor injuries.

Later, the number of wounded rose to five soldiers. Two were in critical condition, one serious, and two light. They were evacuated to hospitals. Medic Tzuriel Adri described a difficult scene with ongoing gunfire, stating they evacuated a man in his twenties, unconscious and critically injured, along with others. Medic Hanan Meir reported treating a conscious man in his twenties with minor leg injuries, and another with similar injuries. Medic Avraham Ethan Stern treated a conscious man in his twenties with minor facial injuries, likely from shrapnel.

Medical personnel on site reported that gunfire continued for over 20 minutes, hindering the evacuation of the wounded. Following the attack, the army imposed a full closure on the entrances and exits of the Hebron governorate, conducting raids and arrests. The assailants reportedly attempted to flee and were pursued and killed. The army established checkpoints and cordoned off surrounding villages, closing roads and initiating searches.

Israeli media claimed one of the attackers was linked to Hamas, which reportedly welcomed the operation. The Israeli army later found a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle, thwarting a more serious attack, according to Chief of Staff Ayala Zamir, who ordered additional forces to be prepared for deployment to the Central Command.