Security forces launched an extensive counterterrorism operation in Jenin and Tulkarm overnight Tuesday, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) spokesperson said in a joint statement.
IDF activity was also reported in Palestinian Arab villages in the Jordan Valley and in Shechem (Nablus).
Overnight, an IDF aircraft struck and eliminated three armed terrorists in Jenin who posed a threat to the soldiers on the ground. The forces arrested wanted terrorists, and located and seized arms including an M16 assault rifle, ammunition, and other military equipment. In addition, undercover Border Police officers eliminated two additional armed terrorists.
Parallely, the forces began operating using a helicopter in Fara'a in the Jordan Valley, during which an aircraft struck and eliminated four armed terrorists who endangered the troops on the ground. The soldiers seized weapons and uncovered and destroyed explosives buried under roads in the area.
According to Palestinian Arab reports, at least 15 terrorists have been eliminated so far in the operation.
In addition, the reports said that some terrorists were injured in Nur Shams near Tulkarm and that an explosive device went off there.
Further reports indicated that the IDF troops were surrounding Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin.
Meanwhile, the IDF on Wednesday morning published video footage from Monday's strike in which five terrorists who were operating within an operations room in the area of Nur Shams were eliminated. The structure was used by the terrorists to conduct terrorist activity and harm IDF soldiers operating in the area.
Among the terrorists that were eliminated is Jibril Jasan Ismail Jibril, a terrorist involved in terror activity in the areas of Tulkarm and Qalqilya who was released as part of the agreement in November 2023.
Also eliminated were the terrorists Mohanad Qarawi and Muhammad Yussef, who were involved in terrorist activity in Nur Shams, and the terrorist Adnan Jaber, who was involved in terrorist activity and manufactured explosives intended to harm security forces.
Late last week, IDF, Border Police, and the Shin Bet completed a 14-hour counterterrorism operation in the Tulkarm area.
During the operation, an IAF aircraft attacked and killed three armed terrorists in the area.
As part of the operation, soldiers from the Haruv unit under the direction of the ISA destroyed two explosives laboratories and soldiers of the Duvdevan unit destroyed the apartment of wanted persons and arrested a wanted person.
In addition, the forces destroyed explosive devices planted in the traffic routes with the aim of harming Israeli forces.