After attack on soldiers: Israel launches operation in West Bank

After attack on soldiers, Israel starts operation in the West Bank As of: October 24, 2026 • 3:01 a.m

After the fatal shooting of two soldiers, Israel's army has begun an "anti-terror operation" in the West Bank. They are looking for weapons and terrorist infrastructure there. Israel's prime minister also threatened a large-scale military operation.

In response to an attack in the West Bank that left two soldiers dead, Israel says it has launched an anti-terror operation in the Hebron area.

"The forces have begun a targeted, precise and comprehensive search of the area to locate and eliminate terrorist infrastructure and weapons," said a joint statement from the Israeli army and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service published on the Telegram platform late in the evening.

The operation by the army, secret service, border police and civil administration is limited to the area from which the terrorists operated and is expected to last several days. Residents of the affected area could leave the area via three designated exits after questioning, it said.

The Israeli government is preparing a complete closure of the West Bank. more

Two attackers opened fire on Israeli soldiers with a pistol and an automatic rifle at a checkpoint near Hebron on Friday morning. According to the army, they killed two soldiers aged 20 and 23 and injured three others before being shot.

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the attackers were planning a major attack on civilians. Numerous weapons and ammunition were found at the crime scene. He also blamed the terrorist organization Hamas for the attack. In a written statement, Hamas praised the attack but did not claim direct responsibility.

After deadly attack: Netanyahu announces major military operation in the West Bank Björn Dake, ARD Tel Aviv, tagesschau, Das Erste, October 23, 2026 • 8:00 p.m. Netanyahu threatens military action After the attack, the access roads to Hebron were closed. Netanyahu ordered the city to be sealed off. The army is also said to be preparing for a complete closure of the West Bank.

He again announced a large-scale military operation in the West Bank. "The defense minister and I are considering a very large-scale military operation in Judea and Samaria, the likes of which have not been seen since the Six-Day War," Netanyahu said, using the biblical names for the West Bank. "The army is ready to carry it out and we will determine the timing. But it will come."

Israel conquered, among other things, the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War in 1967 and has occupied this area ever since.

There have been more deaths in the conflict between Palestinians and Israeli settlers in the West Bank. more

The parliamentary elections will take place in Israel on Tuesday. The conflict with the Palestinians is an important election campaign issue. Right-wing politicians are trying to score points with their voters by promising tough action against Palestinian violence. However, they hardly address the increasing attacks by radical Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank.

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This topic in the program: The First | daily news | Oct 24, 2026 | 2:48am