Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Judea Attack; Hebron Raids Follow

Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others were slightly injured in a shooting in the Judea region, prompting the Israel Defense Forces to intensify anti-terror operations in Hebron in the West Bank on Friday, October 23.

The dead soldiers have been identified as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roitman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Swilem. The injured troops are receiving treatment in hospital, and their families have been informed.

Following the shooting, Israeli soldiers and Israel Border Police started a counterterrorism operation in Hebron. Security rings were established around Hebron and Halhul, and personnel began searching the homes of suspected terrorists and other wanted individuals.

Major General Avi Bluth, commander of the IDF Central Command, spoke at the site and said the bravery of the soldiers had foiled a large terrorist attack against Israeli citizens. He expressed sympathy for the families of the two slain soldiers.

He said the troops had placed their lives on the line to shield civilians from a grave terror assault. Bluth added that security forces had begun a wide-ranging counterterrorism effort aimed at putting perpetrators on trial and dismantling all terrorist infrastructure.

In the past week alone, the IDF, Border Police and Israel Police carried out dozens of anti-terror missions in different parts of the West Bank. The operations were based on intelligence from the Israel Security Agency (ISA).

About 70 wanted individuals were arrested during these actions. The detainees include suspects linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as people involved in provocative activities against Israel and its soldiers.

Security forces also confiscated several weapons, among them M-16 rifles, Carlo submachine guns and four explosive devices. The IDF said anti-terror operations across the West Bank would remain in place to ensure the security of Israeli citizens.