The operation is expected to last several days. During this period, residents may hear explosions and observe increased activity by IDF troops throughout the area.
The Israel Defense Forces’ Jewish Brigade on Monday launched a large-scale counterterrorism operation in Hebron’s Jabal Jawhar neighborhood aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure, eliminating illegal possession of weapons and increasing security in the area.
The operation is expected to last several days. During this period, residents may hear explosions and observe increased activity by IDF troops throughout the area.
An IDF spokesman said, “Security forces will continue to operate aggressively to thwart terrorist activities throughout the West Bank.”
The operation comes amid heightened security concerns in the region. About a month ago, about 30 illegal immigrants infiltrated into Israeli territory in the Lach area, apparently from the Hebron area near the community of Shekov, and managed to get past the security fence before being spotted and arrested.
IDF troops conduct an operation in Hebron, West Bank, to destroy the home of Imran al-Atrash, one of the terrorists responsible for the November 18, 2025, ram-and-stab attack that killed 70-year-old Aharon Cohen, a resident of the village of Alba. January 15, 2026. (Source: IDF spokesperson unit)
Israel Defense Forces conduct operations in Hebron
Despite the deployment of troops and security measures in the area, police expressed anger and confusion as to how an infiltration of this scale could happen again.
Following the incident, police and border police units, in coordination with IDF units, carried out extensive operations in the area.
These include deploying police helicopters, launching drones and setting up roadblocks. After a lengthy search, about 30 illegal immigrants were arrested by security forces.
In another operation in September, the IDF arrested dozens of suspects involved in terrorist activities in the Hebron area, including in the al-Fawwar refugee camp, known as a Hamas stronghold.
