Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in West Bank Shooting Attack, Terrorists Eliminated

Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Reitman and Sergeant Yuval Shay Suilam were killed in a severe shooting attack that occurred Friday morning at the Yehuda Junction, near Hebron. Three other individuals were wounded in the incident, one critically and two lightly. The injured were evacuated to Shaare Zedek and Hadassah Ein Kerem hospitals in Jerusalem.

The attack was carried out by two terrorists who arrived at the scene in a Mazda vehicle and opened heavy fire on civilians at the junction. Shortly after, the terrorists were eliminated by security forces following a pursuit. The soldiers who neutralized the attackers belong to the 'Ari' battalion of the Home Front Command, which was undertaking its first operational duty this week. The terrorists were found to be carrying M4 rifles and a pistol.

In response to the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security assessment and canceled his planned visit to the Mahane Yehuda market. Large security forces, including Duvdevan unit soldiers and aerial assets, were deployed to the area and initiated extensive searches. As part of the operation, a closure was imposed on several villages in the region, and main traffic routes were blocked.

Emergency medical personnel described a difficult scene with ongoing gunfire. They treated and evacuated the wounded, including a young man in his 20s who was in critical condition with gunshot wounds and another young man in his 20s with less severe leg injuries.

Security officials believe the terrorists intended to carry out a major attack against civilians, and that an impromptu checkpoint at the location may have prevented the full realization of their plan. The terrorists used a vehicle with an Israeli license plate. Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that the attack is a "bloody, difficult, and painful reminder of the price of misconception" and called for dismantling the Palestinian Authority, disarming it, and eliminating terror infrastructure.