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Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Terror Attack Near Hebron
Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others were injured on Friday morning, October 23, 2026, in a shooting terror attack at the Yehuda Junction near Hebron. The fallen soldiers were identified as Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Reitman, 23, of Ashkelon, and Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilam, 20, of Hod Hasharon, both serving in the newly established Ari Battalion of the Home Front Command's Rescue Brigade.
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What happened
- 01Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Reitman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilam were killed in a shooting terror attack near Hebron on Friday.
- 02Three other Israeli soldiers from the Ari Battalion sustained light injuries in the exchange of fire at Yehuda Junction.
- 03The two terrorists, Hebron residents Firas and Hamuda Al-Ja'aba, were eliminated by security forces after a 20-minute gunfight.
- 04The attackers used a vehicle with Israeli license plates and were armed with an M4 rifle and a handgun.
- 05A large cache of ammunition was found in the terrorists' vehicle, indicating plans for a larger-scale attack against civilians.
- 06The IDF imposed a blockade on Hebron and surrounding villages, raiding the homes of the two eliminated terrorists.
- 07Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security assessment and vowed a major military operation in Judea and Samaria.
The attack began when two terrorists, identified as relatives Firas and Hamuda Al-Ja'aba from Hebron, arrived at a temporary military checkpoint in a vehicle with Israeli license plates. Armed with an M4 rifle and a handgun, they opened heavy fire on the soldiers. A firefight ensued for over 20 minutes before the two terrorists were pursued and eliminated by security forces, including soldiers from the Ari Battalion and a local security officer.
Following the incident, security forces discovered a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle, suggesting they had planned a more extensive attack against civilians on main roads. In response, the IDF raided the attackers' homes, established roadblocks, and imposed a blockade on Hebron and several surrounding villages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security assessment and promised a large-scale IDF operation in Judea and Samaria.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 10 newsrooms. Updated
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Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Terror Attack Near Hebron
