Israeli Military Says It Killed Two Attackers Crossing from Jordan

Israeli soldiers monitor the border with Jordan (archive photo - Israeli army).
Israeli soldiers monitor the border with Jordan (archive photo - Israeli army).
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Israeli Military Says It Killed Two Attackers Crossing from Jordan

Israeli soldiers monitor the border with Jordan (archive photo - Israeli army).
Israeli soldiers monitor the border with Jordan (archive photo - Israeli army).

The Israeli military said its forces have “neutralized” attackers crossing from Jordan into Israel south of the Dead Sea region and neutralized two of them after they opened fire on Israeli forces, the Israeli army said in a statement on Friday.
Israeli military often uses the term "neutralization" to indicate that attackers have been killed, but it can also refer to their arrest or injuries, meaning they are no longer capable of causing harm.
Avichai Adraee, the spokesperson for the Israeli army, stated in a post on the X platform that the military forces "recently spotted a number of assailants who crossed from Jordan into Israeli territory south of the Dead Sea. The forces rushed to the location and managed to neutralize two assailants who opened fire at them".



White House: Sinwar Killing Represents an 'Inflection Point' for Possible Gaza Ceasefire

Hamas Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar gestures during an anti-Israel rally in Gaza City, May 24, 2021. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem/File Photo
Hamas Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar gestures during an anti-Israel rally in Gaza City, May 24, 2021. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem/File Photo
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White House: Sinwar Killing Represents an 'Inflection Point' for Possible Gaza Ceasefire

Hamas Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar gestures during an anti-Israel rally in Gaza City, May 24, 2021. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem/File Photo
Hamas Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar gestures during an anti-Israel rally in Gaza City, May 24, 2021. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem/File Photo

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was the chief obstacle to securing a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and his killing by Israel's defense force creates an "inflection point" that could accelerate talks to wind down the war, White House spokesperson John Kirby said.

"We believe, continue to believe, that finding an end to the war is critical, and we also believe that Mr. Sinwar's death ... can provide an inflection point to getting there," Kirby said, according to Reuters.

Despite the US optimism, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised on Friday to press on with Israel's wars in Gaza and Lebanon, suggesting the Sinwar killing will do little to halt the fighting, at least in the short term.

Months of efforts by the United States, Israel's chief backer, to broker ceasefires with Hamas and Hezbollah have failed as Israel has pressed on with its wars, and archfoe Iran has appeared to be largely unable to match Israel's military might, including US weapons.

Kirby said ceasefire talks are not underway and he had no timetable for them to begin again.

"I wish I could tell you today that we're getting the teams back together in Doha, and we're starting afresh," Kirby said. "That's not where we are right now."

For his part, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday that the United States called on Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah to seize opportunities for change following the killing of Sinwar.

"We'll see how things evolve," Austin said, when asked about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's vow to keep fighting.

"But clearly there are opportunities for a change in direction, and we would hope that, you know, parties would would take advantage of that, both in Lebanon, in Gaza and in Lebanon."

Austin also said that US Forces in the Middle East stood ready to support Israel's defense.