Operation 'Defensive Shield'

Photo courtesy of the IDF

On March 29, 2002, Israel launched 'Defensive Shield' which was a large-scale operation in Judea and Samaria. This operation came as a response to the deadliest month of terror attacks in Israel's history, when 105 Israeli civilians and 26 IDF soldiers were murdered, mostly in suicide bomber attacks.

In the course of this operation the IDF drafted its reserve forces and entered central Palestinian cities in the west bank. The main objective of this military operation was to eradicate the terrorist infrastructures, which flourished during the 9 years of Palestinian Authority in power.

Operation 'Defensive Shield' was conducted as urban and guerrilla warfare, as terror organizations used the tight civilian residential areas of Judea and Samaria to shield themselves. 

The operation ended on May 10th.

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