Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Hebron Shooting Attack
Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three wounded in a terrorist shooting attack near Hebron. The attackers were eliminated by IDF forces after a 20-minute gunbattle.
Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others were wounded in a terrorist shooting attack near the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday. The victims were identified as Staff Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roitman, 23, from Ashkelon, and Sgt. Yuval Shay Suilem, 20, from Hod Hasharon, both serving in the IDF's Ary Battalion.
According to the IDF, the two Palestinian assailants exited a vehicle and opened fire at a military position near the Yehuda Junction on Route 35. The gunbattle lasted for more than 20 minutes before backup forces arrived, including the battalion's deputy commander and a company commander, who outflanked and eliminated the attackers. A large amount of ammunition was found inside the terrorists' vehicle, suggesting they planned a larger-scale attack against civilians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz visited the scene of the attack. Netanyahu stated that security forces had warned of potential escalation attempts ahead of upcoming elections. He vowed to implement aggressive counter-terrorism measures in the Hebron neighborhood from which the attackers originated, similar to operations conducted in refugee camps.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir praised the troops for their swift response, noting that their actions prevented a far more severe massacre. Following the attack, security forces placed closures on Hebron and Halhul, launching extensive sweeps and mapping the homes of the assailants for demolition.
