Israel's Netanyahu vows major military operation, cordons off West Bank city after deadly attack on troops
Updated on: October 23, 2026 / 9:29 AM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a major military operation in the West Bank after a shooting attack killed two soldiers.
- Troops killed the two Palestinian gunmen responsible for the attack near Hebron.
- Netanyahu ordered the evacuation of residents from the gunmen's neighborhood in Hebron and a house-to-house sweep for weapons.
- The IDF said a large amount of weapons and ammunition was found in the attackers' vehicle.
- Hamas called the attack heroic but did not claim responsibility.
- The IDF has launched "offensive counterterrorism operations" in the Hebron area and arrested approximately 70 wanted Palestinians in the West Bank over the past week.
- The escalation occurs just before Israeli elections, with Netanyahu making national security a key campaign issue.