Israel launches a military operation in Hebron after two soldiers were killed

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On Friday evening, the Israeli army announced the start of a large-scale military operation in the area of ​​the city of Hebron, in the south of the West Bank, with the participation of the Shin Bet Security Service and the Border Guard. It was expected to continue for several days, following an armed attack that resulted in the killing of two Israeli soldiers and the wounding of others.

According to a statement published by Israeli army spokeswoman Ella Wawiyeh, the forces, under the leadership of the Yehuda Brigade, began carrying out combing and inspection operations in the area from which the attackers launched, with the aim of finding and neutralizing what the army described as “terrorist infrastructure” and combat means.

The statement explained that the operation includes investigating dozens of suspects, in addition to implementing security and military measures in the vicinity of Hebron.

The army indicated that the scope of the operation is concentrated in a specific area within the city, and that it is expected to last several days.

Regarding the movement of residents, the Israeli army announced that residents in the area of ​​operations were allowed to leave it through 3 designated crossing points, after undergoing inspection and security interrogation procedures.

He added that persons suspected during inspections will be referred for investigation by the security services.

He explained that the operation was an extension of military measures that began on Friday morning, and included identifying the locations of the homes of the perpetrators of the attack and drawing their maps, imposing a security cordon on the Hebron and Halhul regions, closing roads, and carrying out operations in the villages of the region.

He also announced work to remove facilities that he described as illegal, considering that they may pose a security risk in the vicinity of the site of the clash.

The army confirmed that its forces are carrying out operations against dozens of targets in different areas of the West Bank.

The Israeli announcement comes after the mayor of Hebron, Yousef Al-Jaabari, confirmed in statements to Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath that the city is completely surrounded by dozens of Israeli military vehicles.

Al-Jaabari said that Israeli forces prevent entry into and exit from Hebron and its neighboring towns, noting that large-scale demolitions of homes and shops were carried out using dozens of bulldozers.

He considered that the Israeli right is escalating the situation in Hebron with the aim of gaining electoral votes before the Israeli elections scheduled for next Tuesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced, during his visit to Hebron, accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz, that Israel is studying a large military operation in the West Bank, on a scale he described as unprecedented since 1967.

He said that the army is ready to implement it, and that the first phase will include the entry of forces into the neighborhood from which the perpetrators of the attack came, evacuating residents, searching homes, and destroying what he described as “terrorist infrastructure.”

These developments came after an armed attack near Hebron on Friday, which led to the killing of two Israeli soldiers and the wounding of three others, while Israeli forces killed the perpetrators of the attack.

With the official start of the operation, concerns are increasing about the impact of military measures and closures on the Palestinian population, in light of continuing tension in the West Bank.