Full coverage· Security· Updated 15:51

Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Terror Attack Near Hebron

Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others were injured on Friday morning in a shooting attack at a checkpoint near the Yehuda Junction, close to Hebron. The fallen soldiers were identified as Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Reitman, 23, from Ashkelon, and Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilam, 20, from Hod Hasharon. Both served in the newly established Ari Battalion of the Home Front Command's Rescue Brigade, which was on its first operational deployment.

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What happened

01Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Reitman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilam were killed in a shooting attack near Hebron on Friday morning.
02Three other soldiers from the Ari Battalion were injured in the incident and evacuated to Jerusalem hospitals.
03The two Hamas-affiliated terrorists, Hamuda and Firas Al-Ja'aba, were killed by IDF forces after a 20-minute firefight.
04The attackers opened fire at a checkpoint near Yehuda Junction after realizing they could not reach their primary target on Route 35.
05A large quantity of ammunition was found in the terrorists' vehicle, indicating they planned a much larger attack against civilians.
06IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited the soldiers' rapid response with preventing a more severe outcome.
07The IDF blocked all entrances and exits to Hebron, raided the attackers' homes, and placed a security cordon on surrounding villages.

The attack began around 7:30 a.m. when two Hamas-affiliated terrorists from Hebron, identified as relatives Hamuda and Firas Al-Ja'aba, both 27, approached the checkpoint in a vehicle. Realizing they could not pass the routine inspection to reach Route 35, they exited the car and opened fire with an M4 rifle and a handgun. A firefight ensued for over 20 minutes before the two attackers were neutralized by the soldiers.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the soldiers' swift actions, stating they prevented a much larger attack on civilians. A large quantity of ammunition was discovered in the terrorists' vehicle. Following the incident, the IDF raided the attackers' homes, blocked access to Hebron and surrounding villages, and Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered preparations for a full lockdown of Judea and Samaria.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 14 newsrooms. Updated 19:58