IDF Arrests Over 60 Suspects and Seizes Weapons in Major West Bank Operation
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) concluded a large-scale operational campaign in the West Bank this week, arresting more than 60 wanted individuals and confiscating significant amounts of weapons and equipment. The operation included over 250 offensive activities aimed at thwarting terrorism and was part of an ongoing effort to neutralize threats against local residents and Israeli citizens.
According to the IDF, those detained include weapons holders and dealers, suspects involved in promoting terrorist activities and assembling explosives, a suspect reportedly planning an attack, and individuals involved in stone-throwing, Molotov cocktail incidents, and a shooting in Hebron linked to clan conflicts. The arrests were enabled by focused intelligence work that allowed security forces to close in on high-value targets.
Confiscated items included two improvised Carlo submachine guns, three hunting rifles, a pistol, grenades, ammunition, weapon parts, materials for bomb-making, military equipment, three drones, and incitement materials. The seizure of drones highlights ongoing attempts by terrorist groups to use advanced technology for intelligence gathering and attacks. The improvised Carlo weapons are considered particularly dangerous, making their confiscation a significant achievement in preventing potential terrorist acts.
The operation involved targeted raids on homes and structures storing weapons, with close cooperation between the IDF, Shin Bet, and Israeli police. The campaign spanned the entire West Bank Division area, with simultaneous arrests in Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Jenin, all known centers of persistent terrorist activity. The IDF emphasized that this operation runs concurrently with other military efforts in Gaza and southern Lebanon, including the elimination of dozens of militants and destruction of underground tunnels.
The IDF stated it will continue to act decisively to prevent terrorism and protect residents and Israeli citizens, adapting operations based on intelligence and operational needs while maintaining freedom of action to counter threats.
