Counterterrorism operations across Judea and Samaria
IDF soldiers, Israel Border Police and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) operated in approximately 40 areas and 400 locations over the weekend, focusing on areas associated with Hamas.
Forces apprehended approximately 40 suspects, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists and suspects involved in incitement, public disorder and rock-hurling.
In the Judea Brigade’s sector, forces are operating extensively at dozens of locations in Hebron and Halhul and have apprehended approximately 20 suspects.
Etzion Brigade soldiers entered more than 70 locations across more than 10 areas during a brigade-level operation, arresting suspects involved in planting explosive devices and advancing terrorist activity, including Hamas operatives.
In the Samaria and Menashe brigades’ sectors, soldiers and Border Police dismantled memorials commemorating terrorists involved in attacks that killed Israeli civilians.
In the Samaria Brigade’s sector, forces apprehended two suspects involved in an attack against Israeli civilians near Burin. A hunting rifle used by suspects was also found near Silat al-Dhahr.
Benjamin Brigade soldiers operated in approximately 15 areas, apprehending Hamas terrorists, other terrorist operatives and individuals involved in public disorder.
In the Ephraim Brigade’s sector, forces apprehended several suspects, conducted dozens of questioning sessions and searched for weapons.
In a separate weekly tally, security forces reported approximately 70 arrests during dozens of operations based on Shin Bet intelligence.
Those arrested included Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad affiliates and individuals accused of incitement against Israel and IDF soldiers. Forces also found dozens of weapons, including M16 rifles, Carlo submachine guns and four explosive devices.
Suspected drug packages found near Hatzerim
Israeli Air Force ground defense troops found three balloons adjacent to the perimeter fence of Hatzerim Airbase in southern Israel earlier today.
“Attached to the balloons were packages containing substances suspected of being various types of drugs, along with tobacco products,” the IDF said.
The incident remains under investigation. Smugglers have previously used balloons to transport drugs across the Egyptian border.
Popular Resistance Committees commander eliminated
The IDF and Shin Bet said an aerial strike in Khan Yunis on Wednesday eliminated Ramadan Muhammad Ashahada Diab, the Popular Resistance Committees’ commander in the area.
According to the military, Diab advanced attacks against Israeli troops and civilians throughout the war, particularly recently, and worked to restore Hamas’s military capabilities “in systematic violation of the ceasefire.” The military said the strike removed the threat he posed.
Established in 2000, the Popular Resistance Committees is Gaza’s third-largest terrorist faction after Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The IDF said the organization, formerly affiliated with Fatah, is now linked to Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Its members participated in the October 7, 2023, massacre, infiltrating Israel and murdering and abducting civilians and soldiers into Gaza.
Throughout the war, the organization carried out numerous attacks against IDF troops in cooperation with Hamas.
Two terrorists eliminated after crossing the Yellow Line
In two separate incidents on Friday, IDF troops identified two terrorists who crossed the Yellow Line in northern and southern Gaza. Troops subsequently eliminated both.
