Combined Attack Stopped
IDF Stops Car-Ramming, Shooting Attack Near Modi'in Checkpoint
The military reported that two terrorists attempted to run over soldiers at a checkpoint near the city of Modi’in; one was eliminated after opening fire, and the second was captured.
A combined terrorist attack involving a ramming attempt and a shooting was thwarted by Israeli soldiers on Thursday evening, shortly after the conclusion of the solemn fast of Yom Kippur. The incident occurred at the Bell Checkpoint (also known as Beit Liqya) on Route 433, near the community of Maccabim and the city of Modi’in.
Two terrorists arrived at the military checkpoint and attempted to ram the soldiers stationed there. During the incident, one of the assailants, who was armed, jumped out and tried to open fire toward the forces. The troops responded immediately, shooting and eliminating the armed terrorist on the spot. The second terrorist was apprehended at the scene by Israeli forces and transferred for interrogation.
The Israeli military confirmed that there were no casualties among the soldiers or the civilians traveling in the area. This swift action effectively ended what appeared to be a planned dual-method attack, vehicle followed by a firearm, a pattern that has been observed in the past along Route 443 and its adjacent checkpoints in the Binyamin area.
It is important to note that the Bell Checkpoint is a military post located on the Palestinian side of the area, distinct from the main route used by Israeli travellers. Nevertheless, Route 443, to which the checkpoint is connected, is a major artery linking Jerusalem to the coastal plain and has been repeatedly targeted by terror attacks over the years, underscoring the necessity of heavily guarded positions in the region.
This foiled attack follows several recent fatal incidents targeting Israeli forces. Just a week prior, two soldiers, Major (Res.) Yitzhak Harush, 68, and Sergeant Oren Hershko, 20, were killed in a shooting attack at the Allenby Crossing (Jordan River Crossing) after a Jordanian citizen driving a humanitarian aid truck opened fire. Earlier this week, Staff Sergeant Inbar Abraham, a 20-year-old paratrooper, was killed in a ramming attack at the Git Junction in the Shomron region.
The immediate neutralization of the armed terrorist at the Bell Checkout ensured zero Israeli casualties and demonstrated the heightened readiness of the troops during a sensitive holiday period.