The Israeli army and police are searching for a man who has gone missing in the Hebron area.

The man from Beersheva, an army veteran named as Niv Asraf who was reportedly stationed in Hebron, was returning from visiting the Cave of the Patriarchs with a friend.

Initial reports stated that the car then suffered a flat tyre, but police have denied since this, saying that the 22-year-old army veteran exited the vehicle - without his phone - and entered the village of Beit Anun for an unspecified reason.

When he failed to return within half an hour, his friend called the emergency services.

In a statement, the army reported: "The IDF is performing extensive searches near Beit 'Anan following police report of suspected abduction of an Israeli citizen in the area".

The area has been closed off by the IDF to aid the search.