Overview
- Security forces activated the IDF’s “Air Hammer” emergency procedure and launched large-scale searches around Beit El after residents and soldiers reported several low-flying objects on the night of May 28.
- Early field reports said roughly five unidentified aerial objects were seen, and one military unit reportedly opened fire at what it believed was a hostile drone; no injuries or damage were reported.
- Kan 11 and other sources say the objects were most likely commercial airliners temporarily routed toward Ben Gurion Airport, and the Israel Airports Authority confirmed authorization for aircraft operations in the area overnight.
- Investigators are examining whether lights from a police helicopter and the atypical flight paths together caused the misidentification, and security forces remain on scene while the probe continues.
- The incident highlights recurring coordination gaps between military, police, and aviation authorities in the West Bank and shows how simple visual confusion at night can nearly trigger dangerous escalation for local residents and troops.