Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded on Friday in a shooting close to Hebron, in the southern West Bank. The Israeli military said two gunmen fired on the post, and a firefight lasting more than 20 minutes ended with troops killing both attackers. Israeli soldiers killed in the incident have been named, and the military said the gunmen had been planning a larger attack on Israeli civilians.
How the attack unfolded
Around 7:30 a.m., the two men drove up to a temporary post manned by soldiers from a search and rescue battalion of the military's Home Front Command. The troops were carrying out routine inspections of Palestinian vehicles leaving the city. According to the military's preliminary investigation, the men left their car on a side road, carrying an assault rifle and a pistol, and used nearby buildings for cover as they fired on the post.
Magen David Adom, Israel's emergency medical service, said it treated two critically wounded soldiers at the scene, and both were later pronounced dead. The remaining three were reported to be in less serious condition, with injuries ranging from light to moderate, and were moved to hospitals in Jerusalem.
Who was killed
The military named the two Israeli soldiers killed as Staff Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, of Ashkelon, and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem, 20, of Hod Hasharon. The attackers were named as Mohammad Jaaba and Firas Jaaba, both 27 and residents of Hebron. Both men belonged to one family, though their exact relationship had not been established by late Friday morning.
What remains unclear
The military's preliminary findings suggest the pair intended to strike Israeli civilians on Route 35, a major highway, but could not reach it and opened fire on the checkpoint instead. It is not yet known whether they acted alone or as part of a wider network. Hamas, which is strongly present in Hebron, praised the attack as 'heroic' and did not take credit for it. Because the probe is at a preliminary stage, its findings on the attackers' links to any network and their motives may change.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Friday ko Hebron ke qareeb West Bank mein ek fauji checkpoint par do Palestinian bandooq-bardaron ki firing mein do Israeli foji mare gaye aur teen zakhmi hue. Firing 20 minute se zyada chali, aur fauji karwai mein dono hamla-awar bhi maare gaye. Pakistan mein rehne walon ke liye iska seedha asar kharche ya bills par nahi hai, lekin yeh is ilaqe mein tanao ko zahir karta hai. Tafseel ke liye Israeli military ke agle bayanat par nazar rakhein.
