Israeli forces dismantle significant Hamas terror network in Hebron

In recent weeks, Israeli security forces conducted an extensive operation in the city of Hebron, south of Jerusalem, leading to the discovery of a complex underground Hamas terror infrastructure. This operation involved collaboration between the Shin Bet security agency, the police, and the Israeli army to thwart imminent attacks planned by Hamas operatives. The operation, described as the largest in Judea and Samaria in more than a decade, revealed an extensive network of tunnels that served as hideouts and weapon storage, all linked to a conspiracy that involved at least ten separate terrorist cells. The investigation uncovered that these operatives were actively preparing for a series of planned attacks against Israeli targets, with the intention of conducting shootings and bombings in various locations, including those within pre-1967 Israel. In the course of the operation, more than 60 terrorists were arrested and significant quantities of weapons, including 22 guns and 11 fragmentation grenades, were seized. Additionally, officials reported that some of the arrested were linked to previous terrorist attacks, including a shooting incident from 2010 that resulted in the deaths of four Israelis and a more recent attack in November 2023, which claimed the life of an IDF soldier. The Shin Bet emphasized that this operation dealt a profound blow to Hamas’s operational capabilities and plans to execute future attacks against Israeli civilians. In a separate but related context, Israeli forces were active in southern Syria as well, where they aimed to maintain security and prevent Syrian rebels from encroaching near the Israeli border. Following the collapse of Bashar Assad's regime in December, Israeli soldiers entered a designated buffer zone of 235 square kilometers, reinforcing protections for the Druze community residing in southern Syria. Forces from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have executed several operations focused on identifying and arresting suspected terrorists, ensuring that these regions remain secure amidst rising tensions and threats. The IDF's involvement in this area marks a significant shift, as it is the first time since the 1974 ceasefire agreement that positions have been established within this buffer zone. Furthermore, ongoing airstrikes have been conducted against Syrian military assets to deter potential threats from radical groups seeking to exploit the situation in the region.