JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli security forces launched offensive counterterrorism operations Friday in the Hebron area and elsewhere in Judea and Samaria after a shooting attack earlier in the day in the Judea Regional Brigade’s area of responsibility, the military said.

Soldiers and Israel Border Police officers are operating under a cordon imposed on Hebron. Forces are currently searching residences linked to the terrorists involved in the attack and additional suspects, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The shooting, which occurred near Yehuda Junction on Route 35 outside Hebron, left five Israelis wounded, two of them critically. IDF troops killed the two attackers, both Hebron residents, after an exchange of fire that lasted more than 20 minutes. Military officials said a large quantity of ammunition was found in the attackers’ vehicle and that the checkpoint encounter appears to have disrupted plans for a larger assault aimed at civilians.​

Over the past week, IDF soldiers, Border Police officers and Israel Police personnel, acting on intelligence from the Israel Security Agency, carried out dozens of offensive counterterrorism operations across Judea and Samaria. Approximately 70 wanted individuals were apprehended, including people affiliated with the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations as well as individuals accused of incitement against the State of Israel and IDF soldiers, the military said.

Security forces also located dozens of weapons during the operations, among them M16 rifles, Carlo submachine guns and four explosive devices.​

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the immediate cordoning of Hebron and additional measures to block travel through the Judea-Samaria region following the attack. He said forces would pursue those responsible and continue arrest operations.​

The IDF said it would continue offensive counterterrorism operations to protect Israeli civilians.