18 settlers arrested as troops clear the Ora Yisrael outpost near Ariel

Israeli security forces arrested 18 settlers on Monday on suspicion of assaulting and obstructing troops during the evacuation of the illegal Givat Ora Yisrael outpost near Ariel and the Palestinian town of Salfit, the IDF said.

Dozens of Border Police officers and Civil Administration personnel arrived in the morning to demolish structures in an area declared a closed military zone. Protesters set tires on fire and blocked main roads, snarling traffic for hours, and dozens used "physical and verbal violence" against the forces, the military said, according to The Times of Israel and ynet. One seized vehicle held flammable materials, assault weapons and pepper spray. Footage showed a bulldozer striking a building while teenagers sat on its roof, Israel National News reports.

Security officials told ynet the outpost was used as a staging point for attacks on nearby Palestinian villages. It has been evacuated before.