Judea Brigade clears 200 sites in Hebron after two soldiers die
Troops demolished structures near the attack site and evacuated 2,000 residents to search for weapons and terrorist infrastructure.
By Lucia Orlov ·
Israeli forces and Civil Administration workers tore down illegally built structures near the northern entrance to Hebron on Saturday. The demolitions took place close to the site of a shooting that killed two soldiers the previous day. The military stated that the actions were meant to restore order and remove security risks presented by the buildings.
On Friday, gunmen opened fire at Yehuda Junction. The attack resulted in the deaths of Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem. Central Command officials identified the shooters as Hamouda and Firas al-Ja'aba. Both men were affiliated with Hamas and came from the Ein Dir-Baha neighborhood. IDF assessments indicate that roughly 2,000 residents in the area belong to the Ja'aba clan, which has ties to Hamas.
The military launched a counterterrorism campaign under the command of the Judea Brigade. Units from Duvdevan, Maglan, the Paratroopers Brigade, Givati reconnaissance reservists, and Border Police participated in the operation. Shin Bet provided intelligence guidance. Soldiers searched approximately 200 locations. They ruled out the presence of weapons and terrorist activity in most areas and arrested 10 suspects.
Evacuations of the al-Jalda and Ein Dir-Baha neighborhoods began on Friday evening. These densely populated districts in western Hebron lie within the Palestinian urban area. Shin Bet and IDF personnel operated designated checkpoints to allow civilians to exit temporarily. Officials explained that moving residents out of buildings permits security forces to search homes and surroundings thoroughly. This includes looking for terrorist infrastructure, weapons, ammunition, explosives laboratories, and caches without putting civilians at risk. The security establishment views the area as a hub for Hamas activity in Hebron.
A situational assessment is scheduled for Saturday to determine if the operation will expand. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Kobi Heller, commander of the IDF's West Bank Division, has widened arrest operations and searches. Troops are now active in Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, and other locations in Samaria. These expanded efforts come as security officials monitor attempts by Hamas leadership abroad to organize attacks before upcoming elections.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
