IDF Boosts West Bank Presence to 26 Battalions as Violence Surges

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has increased its operational footprint across the West Bank to 26 battalions, adding two units amid a sharp escalation of violence that has included Palestinian attacks and incidents involving Israeli settlers, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The figure refers to battalions deployed across the territory rather than a headcount of soldiers. The IDF emphasized that the force posture is fluid: units are regularly repositioned in response to shifting operational needs and security assessments. It remains unclear whether the additional battalions will stay in place through the summer and the upcoming High Holy Days as the military continues to reassess the situation.

Recent Clashes and Arrests

The reinforcement followed orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to boost troop levels, add checkpoints and expand counterterrorism operations after a deadly shooting near Gilad Farm. Security forces arrested more than 70 suspects across the West Bank in follow-up raids, officials said.

According to the IDF, the fatal incident began when a group of Israeli civilians entered Palestinian Authority-controlled territory near the village of Tal (also reported as Tell) without coordinating with the military. A confrontation ensued, during which a Palestinian reportedly seized a weapon and opened fire. Two members of Gilad Farm’s local emergency response team were killed: Chief Sgt. First Class Benayahu Mellet, 32, and Maj. Yuval Ezra, 27. The Palestinian shooter was also killed. Palestinian officials said four Palestinians died in the broader clash; investigators are still determining the sequence of events and the circumstances of the other fatalities.

Israel Police said nine suspects were arrested in overnight raids, including the father of one of the Palestinians killed; police did not specify charges or allege his involvement in the shooting. In the Balata refugee camp near Nablus, three wanted suspects were detained in an undercover Border Police operation directed by the Shin Bet; authorities said they were suspected of terrorist activity but provided no further details. Six additional arrests were reported in Tal, Ramallah, Shuweika (near Tulkarm), and Bani Naim (near Hebron).

Related Incidents Over the Weekend

The shooting followed a stabbing near Elon Moreh in which 51-year-old Itamar Cohen was seriously wounded while trying to extinguish a fire allegedly set by residents of nearby Beit Furik; both Palestinian attackers were killed. On Saturday, an off-duty soldier and another Israeli were injured near Sussiya Junction after assailants threw stones and briefly seized a weapon; the firearm was recovered and four suspects were arrested.

IDF soldiers operate in the village of Tell, near the West Bank city of Nablus, July 25, 2026. (credit: NASSER ISHTAYEH/FLASH90)

In the early hours of Sunday, unknown perpetrators set fire to a mosque in the village of Kusra and spray-painted "Revenge for Benayahu" with a Star of David on the entrance. The IDF also confirmed incidents in Jalud and Turmus Aiya in which Israeli civilians allegedly attempted to set fire to Palestinian property and engaged in violent confrontations; suspects fled before security forces arrived.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir has instructed commanders to prevent further friction between Israelis and Palestinians. Central Command officers warned that violence and terrorism emerging from unauthorized outposts complicate efforts to preserve security and public order.

Operations Beyond the West Bank

Separately, the IDF reported continued operations in Gaza and southern Lebanon. In Gaza, the military said it killed Wael Musa Khaled Ladawi, whom it described as heading Hamas’s internal security in the central enclave; troops also dismantled an underground tunnel route east of the Yellow Line. The IDF reported the deaths of two additional figures it described as militant operatives: Amro Abu Alrish, linked to a past hostage-release episode and associated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Abd Al-Nasser Al-Aziz Maqadmeh, described as a Hamas police commander.

In southern Lebanon, IDF troops said they found two drawings of Adolf Hitler signed "Hassan Haidar" inside a private home in the village of Taybeh. The military suggested the drawings were part of a larger portfolio it suspects may have been prepared for a school operating under Hezbollah’s auspices, though it provided no independent proof linking the portfolio or artist to Hezbollah.

Regional Tensions

Regionally, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted drones launched from Iraq that attempted to strike oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh, blaming Iran-backed armed groups and calling on Baghdad to prevent such attacks. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed separate strikes on crude-oil infrastructure tied to eastern Saudi Arabia in retaliation for alleged Saudi drone incursions.

Near Israel, the IDF reported shooting down two drones near the Israel–Jordan border; the aircraft did not cross into Israeli territory and their origin remains under review. Jordan’s armed forces also reported downing two drones with no casualties or damage.

Meanwhile, Iran said it remained in control of the Strait of Hormuz and would not resume peace talks with the United States after a recent series of strikes and counterstrikes. The pause in U.S. strikes coincided with a steep drop in oil prices, with Brent crude falling more than 8% to just under $89 a barrel on Monday.

Note: Reporting remains fluid. Authorities on all sides are continuing investigations into the weekend’s incidents and the broader security situation in the region.