IDF begins demolitions near site of deadly Hebron shooting as counterterror operation expands

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a counterterror operation on Saturday, executing demolitions near the northern entrance to Hebron in response to a deadly shooting attack the previous day that claimed the lives of two soldiers. The demolitions aim to enforce law and order and neutralize any security threats posed by the dangerous structures identified near the attack site.

An extensive operation, under the command of the Judea Brigade, encompasses troops from multiple units, including Duvdevan, Maglan, Paratroopers Brigade, Givati reconnaissance reservists, and Border Police. Intelligence guidance for the operation is provided by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency). During the targeted operation, IDF troops searched around 200 locations, discovering no weapons or terrorist activity, and arrested 10 individuals.

The operation is conducted in an area predominantly inhabited by approximately 2,000 residents belonging to the Ja aba clan, a group affiliated with Hamas. These terrorists are believed to be the perpetrators of Friday's attack. Civilians who requested evacuation during the operation were temporarily allowed to leave the area via designated checkpoints managed by the Shin Bet and IDF.

On Friday evening, it was revealed that IDF troops initiated the evacuation of the al-Jalda and Ein Dir-Baha neighborhoods in Hebron, densely populated areas located within the city's Palestinian urban region. The two terrorists, Hamouda and Firas al-Ja aba, responsible for the deadly shooting at Yehuda Junction, are both affiliated with Hamas and are believed to have originated from the Ein Dir-Baha neighborhood.

The evacuation enables IDF and Shin Bet personnel to conduct thorough searches inside buildings, family homes and the surrounding areas, without endangering civilians.

A situational assessment is scheduled for Saturday to determine whether the operation should be expanded. Additionally, Brigadier General Kobi Heller, the commander of the IDF's West Bank Division, has expanded arrest operations and searches in the Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarm areas, as well as additional locations throughout Samaria. These expanded operations are prompted by concerns over Hamas leadership abroad attempting to orchestrate terrorist attacks ahead of the elections.