Israel launches ‘limited counterterrorism’ op after 2 IDF troops killed in West Bank

The military said residents in areas where its forces are operating would be allowed to leave through three designated exit points. (Reuters photo)

The Israeli military has launched what it described as a "limited counterterrorism" operation in the Hebron area of the occupied West Bank following a shooting attack that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded several others.The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Friday that troops and other security forces had begun targeted searches to find and dismantle weapons and infrastructure linked to the attackers. They are also questioning suspects as part of the operation.In a post on X, the IDF said, "In response to the shooting attack in which 2 IDF soldiers fell, and several others were wounded, the IDF along with other security forces launched a targeted & limited counterterrorism operation in the Hebron area, from which the terrorists had emerged."The military said residents in areas where its forces are operating would be allowed to leave through three designated exit points."Following questioning and security screening. Individuals who raise suspicion during the screening process will be referred to security forces for further questioning," the IDF said.

Netanyahu orders West Bank lockdown

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Hebron earlier on Friday after ordering a "full lockdown" of the West Bank following the attack, which left five people wounded.

The assault was carried out by alleged Hamas militants, according to Israeli authorities.The incident comes just five days before Israel goes to the polls.Speaking during his visit, Netanyahu said the attackers had sought to harm Israelis ahead of the election, but soldiers had stopped them."We spoke a few weeks ago about our enemies' attempts to harm us, our citizens and our soldiers ahead of the elections. That is what they tried to do here.

IDF soldiers stopped it with their bodies; some were wounded, and the soldiers not only stopped the terrorists but also fought back with courage and liquidated them."Netanyahu also announced plans for a wider security operation in the neighbourhood from which the attackers had emerged. He said Israeli forces would remove residents, search homes and destroy weapons and what he described as terrorist infrastructure."We will first act to destroy this place and change it completely, but [we will] do something that has not been done until now. We are going to implement the successful and offensive model that we used in the refugee camps, which are actually terrorist strongholds. This is exactly what we will do here, inside the neighbourhood in Hebron from which the terrorists emerged. We will clear out the residents, go house to house, take out the weapons and all the infrastructure of terror, [and they] will be treated and destroyed.

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Two attackers killed, manhunt continues

The IDF said two attackers involved in the shooting had been killed. Security forces are continuing a search for any additional suspects who may have been involved.The military operation follows Netanyahu's order to cordon off Hebron and restrict movement into and out of the West Bank. The measures come amid heightened security concerns ahead of the Israeli election.