Israeli security forces intensified their counterterrorism campaign across Judea and Samaria overnight, seizing two substantial weapons caches and arresting ten suspects wanted for involvement in terror activity. The operations, carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in cooperation with Israeli Police and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), highlight Israel’s ongoing efforts to dismantle terror networks directed and financed by Iran and its proxies, particularly in light of the war that escalated following the October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas.
The coordinated raids unfolded in the villages of A-Ram, under the Binyamin Brigade, and Yatta, under the Yehuda Brigade. In A-Ram, Israeli forces identified and confiscated a cache containing three M16 assault rifles, nine Airsoft pistols (which are often illegally modified and used for violence), gas grenades, knives, weapons parts, and assorted ammunition. Simultaneously, in Yatta, security forces seized an M16 rifle, a Carlo-style submachine gun (an improvised weapon frequently used in attacks against Israelis), a pistol, a hunting rifle, and additional weaponry. All confiscated arms and detained suspects were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Shai District Police and Shin Bet for further investigation.
Military officials report a sharp increase in the discovery of improvised and smuggled weapons in Judea and Samaria over the past several months. Intelligence indicates that a significant portion of these arms are intended for use in shooting attacks, stabbings, kidnappings, and other forms of terror against Israeli civilians and security personnel. Many such plots are linked to directives, funding, or logistical support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as from terror organizations including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. These actors have sought to escalate violence in Judea and Samaria in parallel with their aggression in Gaza and other regional hotspots.
Since the October 7th massacre—the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust, when Hamas terrorists murdered, abducted, and brutalized Israeli men, women, and children—Israel has escalated its multi-front counterterror campaign. The IDF’s objectives include rooting out terror infrastructures, interdicting the flow of illegal arms, and restoring security to vulnerable communities in all areas bordering hostile actors. The Iron Swords War, launched in response to the October assault, covers operations not only in Gaza but also along Israel’s northern border with Hezbollah, against Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq, and in the strategic territories of Judea and Samaria.
“Every weapon seized represents a thwarted attack and lives saved,” a senior IDF spokesperson commented in a military briefing. “These efforts are an essential part of our self-defense doctrine, denying Hamas and its backers the capability to threaten Israeli civilians and disrupt daily life.”
The IDF has noted a particular proliferation of so-called ‘Carlo’ submachine guns—crudely manufactured yet deadly weapons linked to numerous attacks. Security agencies have also tracked the conversion of imitation firearms, such as Airsoft pistols, into functioning arms for use against civilian and military targets. Along with knives and explosives, these materials indicate active preparations for further violence orchestrated from within populations controlled by or sympathetic to Iranian-backed terror cells.
The suspects apprehended during the raids are considered wanted for involvement or complicity in terror planning or support activities. Each individual will undergo investigation and due process in accordance with Israeli law and internationally recognized counterterror protocols. The authorities emphasize the clear moral and legal distinction between arresting terror suspects and treating legitimately convicted terrorists, as opposed to the innocent Israeli civilians who remain hostages in the hands of terror groups.
The current security strategy is based on intelligence-driven, targeted action, reflecting lessons learned from decades of counterterror experience, most recently during the deadly assault of October 2023. Israeli authorities, including Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, have reaffirmed Israel’s right—and obligation—to defend its citizens and ensure that Judea and Samaria do not devolve into launching pads for further Iranian-led campaigns against Israel.
Israel’s ability to operate effectively in these regions depends partly on international support and on drawing clear factual distinctions between legitimate self-defense and the deliberate targeting of civilians by terror factions. The government has called on global partners to reject false equivalence, address the root causes of terror, and assist in cutting off financial flows and weapons smuggling that sustain such attacks.
Despite the operational successes, Israeli security officials warn that ongoing vigilance remains necessary. Iranian influence, the ability to manufacture weapons clandestinely, and the spread of online terror training have enabled groups such as Hamas to adapt rapidly. The raids in A-Ram and Yatta, which yielded not only weapons but also encrypted communications and technical manuals, are indicative of a broader intent by hostile groups to incite violence, destabilize the region, and undermine Israel’s right to exist in secure borders.
Israel’s actions in Judea and Samaria are conducted within the framework of international law and are tailored to confront asymmetric threats posed by groups which explicitly violate the laws of war by targeting civilians, using human shields, and waging campaigns of incitement. The ultimate goal is the protection of innocent life—a principle that remains at the core of Israeli strategy as the nation defends itself from an ongoing, externally-directed war.
In conclusion, last night’s successful operations mark a significant chapter in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Iranian-backed terror networks in Judea and Samaria. The continued vigilance and cooperation between the IDF, Shin Bet, and Israeli Police will be essential to ensuring the security and safety of the nation’s citizens while preserving moral and historical truth in a rapidly evolving regional conflict.
