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| Middle East |
| Hamas Kills 3 IDF on Foot Patrol in West Bank |
| 2003-01-23 |
| Three soldiers slain in Hamas ambush in Hebron hills By MARGOT DUDKEVITCH Two Hamas gunmen shot and killed three Israeli soldiers in an apparent close range ambush south of the West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday evening, the IDF said. Hebron's been asking for the fist of God (caterpillar style) lately - hope they get itIn a statement, the military said that Palestinians opened fire on the three soldiers, who were on a foot patrol near the Beit Haggai intersection. The attackers were also on foot. Initial investigations reveal that the two Palestinians lay in ambush on the south side of the junction – also known as the Kavassim (sheep) junction - and opened fire on the three soldiers from the Lavie battalion. The three were critically wounded, medics attempted to resuscitate them but to no avail. "We received a report of a shooting with casualties said," said Dvora, a Magen David Adom medic. "To our sorrow, there was nothing we could do when we arrived, except pronounce them dead," she said adding that the three were apparently shot at close range, riddling the bodies with bullets. A senior IDF source said that the three were guarding the junction that was known as a dangerous location. The officer also said that it appears that the terrorists made off with the weapons of the three men. House -to House crushing search should be in orderHamas claimed responsibility for the attack, issuing a leaflet saying the shooting was retaliation for attacks by Israeli settlers and the military against Palestinians and their property in Hebron, known as a Hamas stronghold. (formerly a standing City with an economy)Hundreds of IDF troops streamed to the area to search for the terror cell. Residents in nearby Kiryat Arba reported seeing dozens of flares lighting up the night sky. Channel 1 Television said the attackers apparently managed to flee to the nearby Arab village of Yatta. Former village of Yatta Yatta.....(start Seinfeld joke) Israel Radio said that a patrol of soldiers encountered the terrorists after the attack and were fired upon before the attackers again fled. There were no injuries to the patrol. The attack took place in a sparsely populated area of the West Bank, south of the city of Hebron, which has been a focus of violence over more than two years of Palestinian-Israeli fighting. On Nov. 16, Palestinian gunmen ambushed Israeli soldiers and security guards in Hebron, killing 12, in the bloodiest incident there in years. On Friday, Palestinians shot and killed an Israeli settler in a house just outside Hebron. |
| Posted by:Frank G |