The scene of the attack
The scene of the attackNasser Ishtayeh/Flash90

Two IDF reservists were killed and several others were wounded in a shooting attack on Tuesday morning near Tayasir, on the road between Samaria and the Jordan Valley.

One of the fallen was identified as Sergeant Major (Res.) Ofer Yung, aged 39 from Tel Aviv, a squad commander in Battalion 8211 of the Efraim Brigade. The name of the second soldier has not yet been cleared for publication.

During the incident, two reservists in the 8211th Battalion of the Efraim Regional Brigade were severely injured, and a further six reservists were lightly injured.

According to initial details from the scene, the terrorist who was wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with an M-16 assault rifle, ambushed two soldiers who left the military installation. The terrorist is thought to have entered the area at night and waited until the early morning for the soldiers to leave. He fired at the two soldiers, wounding them.

The terrorist managed to infiltrate the military compound, an installation with a guard tower, where the soldiers were operating. Once in the compound, he opened fire and a gunbattle ensued between him and the forces. The gunbattle continued for several minutes until the forces managed to eliminate the terrorist inside the compound.

The IDF clarified that the terrorist did not reach the top floor of the guard tower and the gunshots that were seen coming from the top floor were those fired by the IDF forces at the terrorists. The IDF is investigating how the terrorist reached the area and ambushed the soldiers.

Galei Tzahel radio reported that the IAF had a Hermes 450 drone in the air. However, the IDF decided not to use the drone to eliminate the terrorist due to operational considerations, including concerns that it may hurt one of the troops on the ground since the terrorist was already inside the military compound. In the end, it was the forces on the ground who eliminated the terrorist.

The terrorist was wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with a rifle. He ambushed the troops outside the guard tower and opened fire on one of the soldiers who left the tower. Later he ran into the compound while continuing to fire.

Two Air Force helicopters were deployed to evacuate the wounded to the hospital.

The IDF stated: "A terrorist fired at soldiers at a military post in the area of Tayasir. The soldiers eliminated the terrorist during exchanges of fire."

MDA Paramedic Denis Polkov reported: "We arrived at the scene with MDA ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units. Together with IDF medical teams, we provided medical treatment to six victims who were airlifted by IDF helicopters. We then evacuated them from the landing pads to the hospitals' trauma rooms."

The terrorist
The terroristCredit: TPS

The Yesha Council responded to the attack: "In this difficult time, we seek to strengthen the IDF soldiers and their commanders. The determined fighting of our heroic warriors pushes the evil terrorists away from the homes of Israeli citizens and prevents scenes similar to those of October 7th from occurring in places like Afula and Netanya, G-d forbid.

"This morning's attack once again proves that Arab terrorism seeks to harm the State of Israel and IDF soldiers.

"The Israeli government has a duty to decisively defeat Arab terrorism and to announce the application of Israeli sovereignty, which will prevent the establishment of a terror state in the heart of the country."

At the beginning of the week, the IDF announced that it would be expanding operations in the area as part of Operation Iron Wall and deploying troops from the Bislach Brigade into the village of Tammun part of the "Pentagon area" together with Tubas, Tayasir, Fara, and Aqba.

In recent months there has been an uptick in terror activities emanating from the five villages, including the planting of bombs in the roads and the use of weapons.