Israeli military raids West Bank city of Hebron in large-scale operation

(19 Jan 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hebron, West Bank - 19 January 2026
1. Various of Israeli military armored vehicle
2. Close up of armed soldier standing at street
3. Various of Israeli soldiers patrolling near armored vehicle
4. Israeli military vehicle next to closed gate
5. Mid of soldier operating a barrier during a raid in Hebron
6. Various of Israeli soldiers
7. Palestinian flags outside Hebron Governorate building
8. Close up of Hebron Governorate building sign texted (Arabic, English) " State of Palestine, Hebron Governorate"
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khaled Dudin, Mayor of Hebron:
"The occupation is the one who provided justifications and created reasons for today's incursion into the southern area of Hebron, especially since this area is targeted. This area poses an obstacle to the occupation in creating a chain of settlements between the Kiryat Arba settlement, the Ibrahimi Mosque, and the old city. We have eighty thousand citizens in the southern area. This area is originally under occupation."
10. Cutaway of sign texted (Arabic, English) "State of Palestine, Hebron Governorate"
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khaled Dudin, Mayor of Hebron:
"We fear that through the actions of the occupation today, the southern region of Hebron is becoming similar to what happened in Tubas, Jenin camp, and Nur Shams camp. The occupation is dealing with this area with absolute sensitivity, especially since the southern region of Hebron serves as a protective barrier for us. It is the southern protection for the Ibrahimi Mosque and the old city in Hebron."
12. Various of soldiers standing near an overturned vehicle
13. Close up of overturned vehicle
14. Israeli soldiers talking with a local man during a raid in Hebron
15. Various of Israeli military armored vehicle and soldiers
16. Wide of closed gate
17. Wide of military vehicle patrolling a street in Hebron
STORYLINE:
Israeli forces raided part of Hebron, the largest city in the occupied West Bank, on Monday in the latest such incursion into areas under Palestinian Authority control.

Israel’s military said the operation — which will last several days — targets illegal weapons, while Palestinian officials said it was part of a larger trend targeting strategic areas eyed for Israeli settlement.

Israeli armored vehicles and soldiers patrolled city streets and put up barriers where operations where being conducted.

There were no immediate reports of demolitions or injuries.

Hebron Mayor Khaled Dudin said Israeli forces targeted the area that's home to 80,000 people because it obstructs the construction of additional Israeli settlements.

The West Bank has seen a surge in Israeli military activity since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack into Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.

"We fear that through the actions of the occupation today, the southern region of Hebron is becoming similar to what happened in Tubas, Jenin camp, and Nur Shams camp," said Dudin.

The area, called Jbel Johar, is on an elevated ridge on the edge of Hebron, between the Kiryat Arba settlement and Hebron’s Old City, where settlers live under heavy military protection.

In a shift in how Israel operates in the West Bank, Palestinian cities in Area C have seen a surge in Israeli military raids since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack into Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.

The raids have preceded demolitions and the displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians, according to Palestinian officials and the United Nations.

AP Video shot by Amer Abdeen
Production by Jalal Bwaitel



Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...