The Israeli military has launched a large-scale operation in southern Hebron, deploying hundreds of troops and heavy engineering vehicles and imposing a dawn curfew on the city’s southern districts. The army and Shin Bet say the raid targets alleged "terror infrastructure" and will continue for several days. On-the-ground reports describe tracked armoured vehicles, bulldozers, newly installed metal barriers and the sealing of the Tariq bin Ziyad roundabout; Palestinian sources say at least seven arrests were made. The raid comes less than 0.5 km from the Ibrahimi Mosque amid moves to transfer its management to the Israeli Civil Administration.
Israeli Forces Launch Large-Scale Operation in Hebron; Southern Districts Placed Under Curfew
Israeli soldiers take position during a raid in Hebron, occupied West Bank, January 19, 2026 [Mussa Qawasma/Reuters]
The Israeli military has launched a large-scale operation in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, deploying hundreds of troops and heavy engineering vehicles that have paralysed the city’s southern districts.
In a joint statement on Monday, the Israeli army and the internal security service, Shin Bet, said the offensive targets alleged "terror infrastructure" and aims to confiscate weapons in the Jebel Johar neighbourhood. The military warned the operation could continue for "several days."
On-the-ground reporting: Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Montaser Nassar, reporting from the scene, described a near-total lockdown. "We are in the so-called southern region of Hebron, which has been under a curfew since dawn," he said, noting an intensive deployment of forces including bulldozers and tracked armoured vehicles.
Nassar said the appearance of tracked armoured vehicles and heavy engineering equipment was notable, comparing it to the levels seen during the second Intifada and Israel's Operation Defensive Shield. He also reported soldiers erecting new metal barriers and iron gates, suggesting a potential long-term tightening of control.
"They brought in iron gates a short while ago, and this is the dangerous part," Nassar said, adding that the measures appeared to be a prelude to further dividing an already fragmented area.
Video footage verified by local sources showed Israeli forces sealing the Tariq bin Ziyad roundabout with cement blocks and earth mounds. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported at least seven arrests during the raid.
The operation is unfolding less than half a kilometre from the Ibrahimi Mosque, following recent steps to transfer management of the site to the Israeli Civil Administration. Nassar said the action follows a decision to bar the mosque's director for 15 days.
Context: Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, official Palestinian sources report more than 1,080 Palestinians killed in the West Bank, around 11,000 injured and roughly 20,500 detained. These figures are provided by Palestinian authorities and have not been independently verified by this outlet.
Reporting continues from Hebron as the operation develops and authorities provide further details.
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