Judea Brigade Leads 200-Site Sweep in Hebron After Fatal Ambush

Israeli forces demolished illegally built structures near the northern entrance to Hebron on Saturday, continuing a military response to a shooting attack that killed two soldiers the previous day. The demolition crews, working alongside Civil Administration personnel, targeted buildings close to the scene of Friday's incident at Yehuda Junction.

The attack claimed the lives of St.-Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem. Military officials stated that the demolitions aimed to enforce law and order while removing potential security threats presented by the structures in that specific zone. The operation falls under the command of the Judea Brigade, which coordinates forces from the Duvdevan and Maglan units, the Paratroopers Brigade, and Givati reconnaissance reservists. The Border Police also participate, with intelligence support provided by the Shin Bet security agency.

Soldiers searched approximately 200 locations during the sweep, checking for weapons and signs of terrorist activity. The effort resulted in the arrest of 10 suspects. According to IDF assessments, roughly 2,000 residents in the targeted area belong to the Ja'aba clan. This group is affiliated with Hamas and is identified as the origin of the gunmen responsible for Friday's shooting. Central Command officials named the attackers as Hamouda and Firas al-Ja'aba, both of whom came directly from the Ein Dir-Baha neighborhood.

Evacuations began Friday evening in the al-Jalda and Ein Dir-Baha neighborhoods, densely populated districts in western Hebron. These areas lie within the city's Palestinian urban sector. Civilians who requested to leave were allowed to exit temporarily through checkpoints run by the Shin Bet and the IDF. Security officials explained that clearing residents from buildings allows troops to inspect homes and surroundings for terrorist infrastructure, weapons, explosives, and caches without risking civilian safety.

The security establishment views this part of Hebron as a known center for Hamas operative activity. A situational assessment was scheduled for Saturday to decide whether to widen the scope of the operation. Meanwhile, Brig.-Gen. Kobi Heller, commander of the IDF's West Bank Division, expanded arrest operations and searches in the Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarm areas, along with other locations in Samaria. These moves occur as Hamas leadership abroad works to organize attacks ahead of upcoming elections.