Gun battles escape as Israeli forces strike West Bank metropolis of Jenin
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t least eight Palestinians have been killed and 29 injured after Israel launched drone strikes on a militant stronghold within the occupied West Bank metropolis of Jenin.
The Palestinian well being ministry confirmed that a number of individuals died following the raid on a compound simply after 1am on Monday.
Israeli troops have been later engaged in huge gunbattles with militants on the streets of Jenin at noon following the launch of a wide-scale navy operation. Palestinian youths could possibly be seen operating for canopy behind parked automobiles amid fierce skirmishes.
The Israeli navy mentioned its forces struck a constructing that served as a command centre for fighters from the Jenin Brigades as a part of a counter-terrorism operation within the West Bank.
Palestinian militants hearth at Israeli armoured autos
/ AFP through Getty ImagesIsraeli navy autos advance throughout an operation in Jenin metropolis
/ AFP through Getty ImagesThey mentioned the focused constructing functioned as an “advanced observation and reconnaissance centre” and a weapons and explosives web site, in addition to a coordination and communications hub for the militant fighters.
Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a military spokesman, mentioned the operation started simply after 1am with an airstrike on a constructing utilized by militants for planning assaults. He mentioned the aim of the operation was to destroy and confiscate weapons.
“We’re not planning to hold ground,” he mentioned. “We’re acting against specific targets.”
He mentioned {that a} brigade-sized pressure — roughly 2,000 troopers — was participating within the operation, and that navy drones had carried out a collection of strikes to clear the way in which for the bottom forces
Until final month, when it carried out a strike on June 21 close to Jenin, the Israeli navy had not used drone strikes within the West Bank since 2006.
But the rising scale of the violence and the stress on floor forces meant such ways could proceed, a navy spokesman mentioned.
“We’re really stretched,” he instructed journalists. “It’s because of the scale. And again, from our perception, this will minimise friction,” he mentioned, saying the strikes have been primarily based on “precise intelligence”.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant mentioned his forces have been “closely monitoring the conduct of our enemies”.
“The defence establishment is ready for all scenarios,” he added.
In a separate incident, a 21-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli hearth close to the West Bank metropolis of Ramallah.
The Jenin camp and an adjoining city of the identical identify have been a flashpoint as Israeli-Palestinian violence escalated because the spring of 2022.
Jenin has lengthy been a bastion for armed wrestle towards Israel and was a serious friction level within the final Palestinian rebellion.
Monday’s raid got here two weeks after one other violent confrontation in Jenin and after the navy mentioned a rocket was fired from the realm final week, which landed within the West Bank.