Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Hebron Area Shooting Attack

The attack began around 7:15 AM when two terrorists, identified as Mohammad Jaaba and Firas Jaaba from Hebron, approached the checkpoint on Route 35 in a vehicle with Israeli license plates. Armed with an M16 rifle and a pistol, the terrorists opened fire on the soldiers manning the checkpoint. A prolonged firefight ensued, lasting over 20 minutes, before the two attackers were neutralized by responding military forces, including the deputy commander and a company commander of the Ari Battalion.

An initial IDF investigation suggests the terrorists had planned a much larger mass-casualty attack on Route 35, but were disrupted by the temporary checkpoint. A search of their vehicle revealed a large cache of ammunition, supporting this assessment. The IDF had no specific prior intelligence warnings about the attack. The terrorist organization Hamas praised the shooting as heroic, though it did not claim responsibility.

Following the attack, security forces imposed a military cordon on Hebron and surrounding villages, launching raids and preparing for arrests. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered preparations for a full lockdown in Judea and Samaria and vowed severe retaliatory actions, while Ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir praised the rapid response of the soldiers, which he credited with preventing further casualties.