A joint operation by Border Police, the IDF, and the Shin Bet has uncovered a significant arsenal of explosives and military gear hidden inside a school in the village of Beit Ummar, located in the Etzion Brigade sector.
What began as a targeted raid to arrest a suspect involved in popular terror and explosive attacks against the nearby community of Karmei Tzur quickly turned into a major discovery of terror infrastructure embedded within a civilian educational institution.
The Confession
During his arrest, the suspect admitted to security forces that a stockpile of weapons was hidden within the local school and expressed a willingness to surrender the location. Acting on this immediate intelligence, fighters raided the school grounds, conducting an extensive search of the buildings and courtyards.
Dramatic footage from the scene shows soldiers using ladders and clearing thick vegetation within the school complex to access the hidden bunkers used by militants.
The Arsenal Uncovered
The search revealed a disturbing array of weaponry and combat gear, including:
- Nine improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in various stages of readiness.
- An improvised long-range firearm.
- A full military combat set: including a uniform, helmet, tactical boots, gloves, and a face mask.
- Riot gear: including slingshots and fire extinguishers used for attacks.
- Explosive materials: A container of loose explosives intended for the manufacture of additional pipe bombs, a stun grenade, and a knife.
Targeting Civilians
In the field recordings, one of the fighters noted that the sheer volume of explosives and ready-to-use materials points to a clear intent to carry out attacks against civilians and security forces in the sector.
All confiscated weapons and equipment were seized by the military. The suspect has been transferred to the Shin Bet for interrogation to determine if other caches exist and if the gear was slated for an imminent attack.
Defense officials emphasized that operations against "IED terror" will continue to ensure the safety of residents in the region, regardless of where terrorists choose to hide their tools of destruction.
