Although the Gaza front was relatively quiet until this afternoon, the IDF did uncover an arms-smuggling tunnel from Egypt into Rafiach this morning. Army forces destroyed it under grenade fire. The army spokesman noted that the Israel-Egypt border is a \"regular route for the smuggling of warfare materials for the Palestinian terrorists.\" Later today, Israeli forces entered the northern-Gaza town of Beit Lahiya in a search for Kassam-rocket launchers and infrastructures. In the Ramallah area, IDF forces found Kassam-rocket launchers inside a mosque in El Bireh.
In Shechem, the fighting is basically over, although the several remaining armed Moslem Palestinian terrorists continue to fire periodically at Israeli soldiers. The IDF captured the Kasba area yesterday; it was noted that the IDF has not yet operated at all in the Balata neighborhood or other areas. Israeli forces entered yet another terrorist-stronghold village this morning - Dura, near Hevron - and began combing it for terrorists and weapons. The fighting was fierce in both areas. Over 300 armed terrorists have been arrested, including dozens of wanted fugitives, in the village of Kabatiye, south of Jenin. The army is also operating today in the village of Rima, near Sa-Nur in the northern Shomron. Rima was the jump-off point for many terrorists and attacks against Israeli cars on the nearby road.
In Shechem, the fighting is basically over, although the several remaining armed Moslem Palestinian terrorists continue to fire periodically at Israeli soldiers. The IDF captured the Kasba area yesterday; it was noted that the IDF has not yet operated at all in the Balata neighborhood or other areas. Israeli forces entered yet another terrorist-stronghold village this morning - Dura, near Hevron - and began combing it for terrorists and weapons. The fighting was fierce in both areas. Over 300 armed terrorists have been arrested, including dozens of wanted fugitives, in the village of Kabatiye, south of Jenin. The army is also operating today in the village of Rima, near Sa-Nur in the northern Shomron. Rima was the jump-off point for many terrorists and attacks against Israeli cars on the nearby road.