Al-Qassam after dual op near al-Khalil: Response came from south
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The dual operations near al-Khalil, West Bank, injured two Israeli occupation forces personnel including the commander of the Etzion Regional Brigade, a colonel.
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The remains of a car bomb detonated at the entrance to the settlement of Karmei Tzur, north of al-Khalil in southern West Bank, Palestine. (Social media)
Israeli media have reported casualties among Israeli occupation forces, including a high-ranking officer, following what the Israeli occupation forces described as "security incidents" targeting the Gush Etzion and Karmei Tzur settlements near al-Khalil in the southern West Bank late Friday night.
Initially, the Israeli occupation army further stated in a press release that "two security incidents occurred in the Gush Etzion," and stressed that the freedom fighters who conducted the operation were killed.
The statement continued to add that "at this stage, it is not possible to determine if there is a connection between the two incidents."
In turn, the Israeli occupation forces spokesperson acknowledged and confirmed the information relayed by Israeli media while the occupation's Army Radio confirmed that the commander of the Etzion Regional Brigade, a colonel, was among the two injured during the dual operation.
Furthermore, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported, citing Israeli security agencies, that "the perpetrators drove two cars on Route 60, with one heading to a gas station in Gush Etzion and the other towards Karmei Tzur."
Israeli military believes two incidents linked
In the same context, Yedioth Ahronoth's reporter, Yoav Zitun, indicated that the Israeli military increasingly believes in a "link between the two incidents," as investigations continue into the possible connection between the attacks.
Zitun commented on the incidents stressing that "while hundreds of soldiers have been stationed in the northern West Bank for the fourth day, we are witnessing a significant shift in the situation in the south, an event not seen since the Second Intifada."
The Israeli Channel, Kan, reported that "the car that entered Karmei Tzur was booby-trapped and exploded inside the settlement.
However, it is worth noting that following the operation, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that the Israeli occupation forces had imposed a siege on the al-Khalil governorate, announcing the deployment of additional reinforcements to the Karmei Tzur settlement, alongside additional roadblocks and search operations in the area.
Israeli media reported that the commander of the Hebron Brigade arrived at the scene of the operation, revealing the establishment of a field operations room that includes units from the Musta'ribeen units, undercover units, the field operations unit of the Shin Bet, and teams from the Maglan and Duvdevan units.
Palestinian local media confirmed that Israeli occupation forces had closed the entrances to al-Khalil, particularly to the south of the area where the operations occurred, and deployed substantial reinforcements, including helicopter units.
The attacks in Gush Etzion occurred amid ongoing confrontations by Resistance groups in the West Bank as the Israeli occupation forces' large-scale aggression against the northern West Bank continues.
It is worth noting that the Resistance groups have reportedly carried out well-planned ambushes, resulting in casualties among the Israeli forces.
Al-Qassam Brigades: The response came from the south of the West Bank
A few hours after the two operations, the Martyr Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, released a video with the words: "The response came to you from the south of the proud West Bank," stressing that "there is more to come..."
The video posted by the al-Qassam Brigades included a reminder of the words of its military spokesperson, Abu Obeida, who emphasized that "Mobilization in the West Bank, al-Quds, and the '48 [occupied] territories is inevitably coming."
كتائب القسّام تنشر: جاءكم الرد من جنوب الضفة الأبيّة يا أبناء اليهودية؛ وللحديث بقية..
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) August 30, 2024
#طوفان_الأقصى pic.twitter.com/M2BzMLfS51
For its part, the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement blessed the two operations near al-Khalil, stressing in a brief statement that "these heroic operations are a message with fire from the free people of Palestine to the fascist occupation government for the aggression in the northern West Bank and the ongoing genocidal crimes in Gaza."
Read more: PIJ military West Bank chief says all factions to fight as one unit
