The Israel Defense Forces launched an intense counterterrorism operation deep inside the Samaria city of Jenin on Thursday, arresting one Palestinian suspect under the cover of airstrikes, the military said.
“Over the past hours, soldiers of the Duvdevan and Haruv patrol units, at the direction of the Shin Bet,” the Israel Security Agency, “acted to thwart terrorism deep in Jenin in the Menashe Brigade,” the IDF tweeted.
During the raid, forces eliminated and wounded several Palestinian terrorists in exchanges of fire. Israeli troops did not suffer casualties despite being attacked with explosives, the military said.
An Israeli Air Force helicopter attacked inside the terrorist stronghold “in support of the forces’ activities,” the IDF said. According to Arab reports, three were wounded, and another 13 sustained injuries.
Israel’s Channel 14 News broadcaster reported that the IDF entered Jenin to arrest a terrorist planning an attack in the immediate time frame. The Palestinian terrorist managed to escape but Israeli forces arrested another suspected terrorist, Channel 14 said.
Judea and Samaria saw a dramatic rise in Palestinian terrorist attacks in 2023 compared to the previous year, with shootings reaching a peak level since the Second Intifada from 2000 to 2005, per IDF data.
Since Hamas launched its war against the Jewish state on Oct. 7, Israeli forces have arrested more than 4,150 wanted Palestinians throughout Judea and Samaria, 1,750 of whom are affiliated with the terror group.