Judea Brigade Clears 200 Hebron Sites After Killing Two Soldiers

Israeli troops demolished illegally constructed buildings near the northern entrance to Hebron on Saturday, continuing a large-scale operation launched after two soldiers were killed in Friday's ambush.

The military identified the victims as St. Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem, who died at Yehuda Junction. Officials stated that removing the structures was necessary to enforce law and order and to remove potential security threats located close to the shooting site.

The counterterrorism campaign falls under the command of the Judea Brigade. It involves active service troops from the Duvdevan and Maglan units, the Paratroopers Brigade, and Givati reconnaissance reservists, alongside Border Police. The Shin Bet security agency provides intelligence guidance for the operation.

Soldiers searched approximately 200 locations during the sweep, clearing weapons and terrorist activity from the sites. Authorities arrested 10 suspects as part of the effort. IDF assessments indicate that about 2,000 residents in the affected area belong to the Ja'aba clan, a group affiliated with Hamas.

Military officials named the attackers as Hamouda and Firas al-Ja'aba. Both men were identified as Hamas affiliates from the Ein Dir-Baha neighborhood. The military began evacuating the al-Jalda and Ein Dir-Baha neighborhoods on Friday evening. These densely populated districts in western Hebron are located within the city's Palestinian urban area.

Civilians who requested to leave were allowed to exit through checkpoints run by the Shin Bet and the IDF. Officials explained that moving residents out allows security forces to search homes, family buildings, and surrounding areas for weapons, ammunition, explosives laboratories, and caches without putting civilians at risk. The area is known to security forces as a hub for Hamas operations in Hebron.

A situational assessment was scheduled for Saturday to determine if the operation would expand. Brig. Gen. Kobi Heller, commander of the IDF West Bank Division, ordered broader arrest operations and searches in Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarm, along with additional sites in Samaria. These expanded efforts come amid concerns that Hamas leadership abroad is organizing attacks ahead of upcoming elections.