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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a search operation late Friday night in Mevo Horon, near Modi’in, following reports of a suspected terrorist infiltration in the area.
At around 10:17 p.m., alert sirens sounded in the West Bank settlement, warning residents to enter protected areas amid fears of an intrusion.
According to an IDF statement, “A search team from the Binyamin Brigade sector was dispatched after infiltration alert sirens sounded in the Mevo Horon settlement due to three suspects in the area.”
For nearly six hours, residents were instructed to remain indoors while military forces combed the surrounding terrain. At approximately 4 a.m., the IDF Home Front Command lifted the alert, confirming that civilians could safely resume movement around the settlement.
No injuries or damage were reported, and officials said the circumstances surrounding the alert remain under investigation.
The Friday incident adds to a growing number of infiltration reports in the West Bank this year. Earlier in October, authorities received a similar alert in the settlement of Kohav HaShahar.
Days before that, two masked men reportedly crossed the security fence into the nearby community of Na’ale, moving around for several hours before being detected by local security teams.
Such incidents have raised alarms among Israeli defense officials about the growing number of illegal crossings along the security barrier surrounding Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Earlier this week, Israel’s Knesset National Security Committee revealed that roughly 6,000 Palestinians had illegally crossed the barrier around Jerusalem, with over 1,000 infiltration attempts recorded in the past week alone. Of those, 88% were reportedly apprehended, and around 800 were imprisoned.
Following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 last year, Israel significantly reduced the number of exceptional entry permits granted to Palestinians in the West Bank—from approximately 100,000 to just 8,000. The measure aimed to tighten border control and prevent further security breaches.
While the IDF continues to bolster its patrols along the barrier and settlements, the latest alerts reflect persistent vulnerabilities in Israel’s internal security apparatus.
Authorities have urged residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately to local defense teams.
As investigations continue, security officials say they are evaluating whether the latest incident in Mevo Horon was linked to organized infiltration attempts or isolated movements across the fence.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members