IDF Launches Operation in Hebron After Deadly Attack

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Friday that it has launched an operation in the city of Hebron, following a morning attack where two residents fatally shot two soldiers. The military stated the operation is expected to last several days, with soldiers currently sweeping the city for individuals involved in terrorism and weapons. Access to and from the operational area will be restricted to three designated exits, requiring explicit permission.

The two assailants were killed in a pursuit after the shooting. The IDF subsequently raided their homes and blocked entrances and exits to Hebron, the largest city in the West Bank, as well as several surrounding villages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared after the attack that a broad operation was anticipated. He warned that the IDF would search homes in the attackers' neighborhood, remove residents, and dismantle terrorist infrastructure and weapons. Netanyahu also stated that the IDF has prepared a comprehensive plan for the West Bank, the most extensive since the Six-Day War, and that its execution is imminent, with the timing to be determined by the military.

Earlier, the Civil Administration began demolishing dozens of structures near the attack site in Hebron. Local residents reported that three buildings, already under demolition orders prior to the incident, were destroyed. Business owners in the area filed a petition with the High Court of Justice (Bagatz), which issued an interim order to freeze the demolition of businesses near the shooting location.

During a situation assessment, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir revealed that a large quantity of ammunition was found in the assailants' vehicle, intended for a more extensive attack. He credited the soldiers' swift actions with preventing a more severe incident. Military assessments suggest the attackers planned to drive onto Highway 35, connecting Hebron to central Israel, but were intercepted at a temporary IDF checkpoint at the Yehuda junction.

The soldiers killed in the attack were identified as Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Reitman, 23, from Ashkelon, and Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilam, 20, from Hod Hasharon. Both served in the Ari Battalion of the Home Front Command's Rescue Brigade. Three other soldiers sustained minor injuries.