Hebron sweep kicks off after ambush takes two soldiers
Military forces evacuated approximately 2,000 residents from two neighborhoods in western Hebron while searching for weapons following a shooting incident at Yehuda Junction.
By Imani Donovan ·
Israeli forces conducted a large-scale clearance operation in northern Hebron on Saturday, following a shooting incident that killed two soldiers the previous day.
Troops and Civil Administration officials demolished illegally constructed buildings and infrastructure near the city's northern entrance. The military stated that these structures posed potential security threats and needed removal to restore law and order. The operation focused on areas close to the scene of the Friday attack.
The shooting occurred at Yehuda Junction on Friday. St.-Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem were killed in the ambush. Central Command officials identified the attackers as Hamouda and Firas al-Ja'aba. Both men were affiliated with Hamas and came from the Ein Dir-Baha neighborhood.
The Judea Brigade commanded the counterterrorism campaign. Forces included troops from the Duvdevan and Maglan units, the Paratroopers Brigade, Givati reconnaissance reservists, and Border Police. The Shin Bet security agency provided intelligence guidance for the operation.
Soldiers searched approximately 200 locations during the sweep. They ruled out the presence of weapons and terrorist activity in those spots. Ten suspects were arrested during the process. The military assessed that about 2,000 residents in the affected area belong to the Ja'aba clan. This clan is affiliated with Hamas and is the group from which the Friday shooters originated.
Evacuations began Friday evening in the al-Jalda and Ein Dir-Baha neighborhoods. These densely populated districts are located in the Palestinian urban area of western Hebron. Civilians who requested to leave exited through checkpoints operated by the Shin Bet and the IDF. Officials explained that removing residents allowed security personnel to search homes, structures, and immediate surroundings for weapons, explosives, and caches without endangering civilians.
Brig.-Gen. Kobi Heller, commander of the IDF West Bank Division, expanded arrest operations in Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarm. Searches also continued in other locations throughout Samaria. A situational assessment was scheduled for Saturday to determine if the Hebron operation would expand further.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
