Two Terrorists Killed in Judea After 20-Minute Gun Battle

Two terrorists were killed Friday morning near the Judea Junction, south of Hebron, following a 20-minute firefight with Israeli soldiers. The assailants, believed to be Hamas operatives from Hebron, arrived in a stolen vehicle with Israeli license plates, armed with weapons and a large quantity of ammunition. They opened fire on an impromptu checkpoint manned by reservists from the Home Front Command's Ari Battalion. The terrorists then advanced towards a dominant position, engaging in a prolonged exchange of fire. Reinforcements, including soldiers from the Paratroopers' 101st Battalion, arrived and joined the battle, ultimately neutralizing the two attackers.

During the incident, five people were injured and evacuated to hospitals in Jerusalem. Two sustained critical injuries, one was seriously wounded, and two others suffered light injuries. Medical teams, including Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics, arrived at the scene while shooting was still ongoing, using an armored ambulance to extract the wounded and provide initial treatment. The injured were taken to Shaare Zedek and Hadassah Ein Kerem hospitals.

Following the attack, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir held a situation assessment with commanders, including the head of the Central Command and the heads of Military Intelligence and Operations. The assessment revealed that the terrorists were eliminated by the deputy commander of the Ari Battalion and the company commander. Zamir confirmed preparations for a full closure on Hebron and surrounding villages, increased arrest efforts, and enhanced intelligence gathering. He also ordered reinforcements for the Central Command as needed. Zamir stated that the soldiers' swift action prevented a more severe attack, noting the large amount of ammunition found in the terrorists' vehicle, which indicated plans for a larger-scale operation.

In response to the attack, security forces, including the Duvdevan unit and aerial assets, were deployed for extensive searches for additional suspects. A closure was imposed on Hebron and nearby villages, and roads were blocked. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned visit to Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market due to the incident. The attack occurs amidst a recent rise in terror incidents in the West Bank, including stone-throwing and riots during the olive harvest season.