(Updated Sunday 9:00 AM) IDF special forces yesterday morning shot and killed the Shomron region's top Islamic Jihad terrorist Iyad Sawalha, 28. Security officials say that Sawalha was directly responsible for the murder of 31 Israelis in two deadly bombings including the October 21 suicide attack at the Karkur junction that left 14 Israelis dead, and the bus bombing at the Megido junction this past June that claimed 17 lives. Sawalha was involved in at least half-a-dozen other incidents that wounded scores more.
Early Saturday morning soldiers surrounded Sawalha's Jenin home and ordered him to surrender. Sawalha refused and began hurling grenades at the soldiers lightly wounding two. The troops then stormed the house and killed Sawalha during a gunbattle. Newly appointed Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz praised the operation's success.
Early Saturday morning soldiers surrounded Sawalha's Jenin home and ordered him to surrender. Sawalha refused and began hurling grenades at the soldiers lightly wounding two. The troops then stormed the house and killed Sawalha during a gunbattle. Newly appointed Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz praised the operation's success.