IDF Soldier Killed in a Clash with Terrorists in the Hebron Casbah
Last night (June 8, 2003 Israel Time), an IDF soldier was killed during a clash with terrorists in the Hebron Casbah.
The family of the soldier has been notified.
The attack in the Hebron Casbah was part of an earlier incident, (which occured on the morning of June 8, 2003), when
two Palestinian terrorists at the western gate of the Cave of the Patriarchs fired at Israeli Border Police manning a
check post used to facilitate movement of Muslim worshippers.
A Border Policeman was lightly-to-moderately injured in the attack.
IDF soldiers returned fire-but the terrorists managed to escape into the Casbah area.
As a result, a closure was placed on Hebron as IDF forces searched the area for the terrorists.
During the search, IDF forces encountered the two terrorists, who were concealed on the roof of a house.
In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, an IDF soldier was killed.
Reinforcements arrived at the scene, identified the terrorists, and opened fire, killing them.
Kalashnikov assault rifles, (rifle) magazines, and additional ammunition were found on the bodies of the dead
terrorists.
The IDF commends the altertness and actions of the forces in the area which prevented the deaths of Israeli civilians
and a major terrorist attack in the Cave of the Patriarchs.
It should also be noted that IDF forces carrying out searches acted quickly to locate the terrorists-which resulted in a
quick resolution of the situation.