IDF Concludes 11-Day Counterterrorism Operation in Hebron Area
The IDF concluded an 11-day operation in the Hebron area following a deadly attack that killed two soldiers. Troops searched hundreds of sites, demolished terrorist infrastructure, and clashed with political leadership over the timing of the withdrawal.
The IDF completed an 11-day military operation in the Hebron area following a fatal terrorist attack that claimed the lives of two soldiers from the Home Front Command's Arie Battalion. The large-scale operation, commanded by the 98th Division, involved troops from the Maglan unit, the Paratroopers Brigade, the Givati Reconnaissance Reserve Battalion, and police forces.
The operation was launched shortly after the deadly shooting near the Yehuda Junction, where two Hamas-affiliated terrorists opened fire on security forces before being killed in a 20-minute exchange. A week later, engineering forces demolished the homes of the two attackers.
During the sweep of the clan's neighborhood in Hebron, troops searched hundreds of locations, arrested and interrogated dozens of suspects, and seized four firearms, vests, and military equipment. Forces also sealed an underground cavity near one of the attacker's homes and confiscated illegal vehicles resembling the one used in the attack.
Senior military officials reportedly argued that the operation should have concluded a week earlier to redirect forces to other fronts and relieve overextended reserve units. However, the political echelon opposed the early termination of the sweep, leading to internal disagreements over the timing.
