The attackers opened fire on four soldiers stationed at the site. According to IDF sources, the terrorists originally planned to bypass the junction to carry out a larger attack on Route 35, a heavily traveled road, but were intercepted before they could proceed. Three additional soldiers from the battalion were lightly injured in the exchange and were evacuated for medical treatment. The military has notified the families of both the fallen soldiers and the injured personnel.
Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth, Commander of the Central Command, addressed the incident later on Friday, commending the “bravery of IDF soldiers” at the scene. He stated that the soldiers’ actions thwarted a “grave terror attack against Israeli civilians,” noting that the IDF served as a “protective shield” for citizens. “Unfortunately, we paid a heavy price during the encounter, and two combat soldiers fell in battle,” Bluth said, extending condolences to the victims’ families.
In the immediate aftermath, the Central Command announced a “significant counterterrorism operation” alongside the imposition of a security cordon on the areas of Hebron and Halhul. Bluth pledged to “bring all terrorists to justice and dismantle terrorist infrastructure of all kinds.” The operation marks an escalation in security measures in the central West Bank following the loss of life.
Roytman’s uncle, Dani, described him as a “mature young man” with “a great sense of humor” who was “always smiling.” “This is a terrible tragedy, and we are still trying to come to terms with it,” the uncle said. The Ari Battalion is a part of the Search and Rescue Brigade, which conducts various security and rescue missions in the West Bank. The Judea Junction is a known security point in the region, frequently involved in intercepting vehicles and preventing cross-border incidents.
The IDF confirmed that the attackers were traveling in a vehicle equipped with an M4 machine gun and a pistol. No further details regarding the status of the attackers or additional arrests have been independently verified as of this report. The Central Command continues to maintain the cordon around Hebron and Halhul, with ongoing operations aimed at dismantling local terrorist networks. The next phase of the operation remains focused on securing the perimeter and investigating the specific infrastructure behind the attack.
