IDF says intensive West Bank operations have sharply changed the security picture

At a media briefing on Thursday for ultra-Orthodox reporters, Central Command presented an updated picture of security activity in Judea and Samaria, the fight against terrorism in northern Samaria, and force deployment on the eastern front. The army said the past year of intense operations under “Iron Wall” followed the entrenchment of terror infrastructure in the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams.

According to the IDF, troops have now achieved operational control in those areas, inflicting major damage on terror infrastructure while arresting and killing militants. The camps, once key hubs for terror groups, have undergone a major shift, and forces continue operating there to preserve the gains, find explosives and prevent terrorist networks from reemerging.

Since the start of 2026, the IDF said it has carried out about 11,500 operational activities across Judea and Samaria, arresting more than 1,770 wanted suspects and seizing about 570 weapons, including pistols, assault rifles, improvised Carlo guns and hunting weapons. It also said about 40 weapons-manufacturing lathes were destroyed, more than 420 drones were found and confiscated, and over 7.8 million shekels intended for terror financing were seized.

Alongside the counterterrorism data, the command detailed force-building measures taken after the October 7 attack. These include the creation of Division 96 to strengthen defense on the eastern front, five new reserve brigades, known as “surge brigades,” and 25 new battalions that have trained and exercised for rapid deployment. More than 15,000 reservists have joined those units, many volunteering to return to active service. Some battalions have already taken part in security operations in Judea and Samaria, and in exercises some reached their sectors in under two hours.

Central Command also released recent attack figures, saying there were 34 shooting, stabbing and ramming attacks in 2021, 84 in 2022, 50 in 2023, 25 in 2024 and 57 in 2025. The command said it is continuing routine counterterrorism activity while also improving readiness, expanding force structure and speeding response times.