Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Hebron Area Terror Attack

The IDF confirmed the deaths of Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Reitman, 23, from Ashkelon, and Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilam, 20, from Hod Hasharon, who fell in a battle at the Yehuda Junction in the Yehuda Brigade area on Friday. Both soldiers were part of the "Ari" (775) battalion of the Home Front Command's Rescue Brigade. Three other soldiers from the battalion sustained minor injuries and were evacuated for medical treatment. Initial investigations suggest two terrorists arrived by vehicle at a temporary checkpoint manned by the soldiers near the exit of Hebron. They reportedly intended to proceed to Highway 35 to carry out an attack on civilians but opened fire on the soldiers after encountering the checkpoint. A firefight ensued for over 20 minutes. Additional forces arrived, conducted an encirclement, and neutralized the two terrorists. A significant amount of ammunition was found in their vehicle, which the IDF believes was intended for a larger-scale attack. The "Ari" battalion, the fifth in the Rescue Brigade, was established recently following the war to increase combat forces and had just begun its first operational deployment after several months of training. In response to the attack, a full closure was imposed on Hebron and Halhul, and security forces launched extensive counter-terrorism operations in the area. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a complete lockdown of Judea and Samaria.