An Israeli aircraft struck a terror cell traveling inside a vehicle in the area of Tulkarm, West Bank, the IDF reported on Saturday morning, a report that was echoed in Arab media.
Arab media channels subsequently stated that among those killed in the strike was Sheikh Haitham Balidi, a leader of Tulkarm’s Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades.
The Qassam Brigades are the armed wing of Hamas and have been active in the West Bank as well as the Gaza Strip.
IDF arrests terrorists in West Bank
On Wednesday, the IDF reported that since the war started in October, some 4,400 suspects have been arrested in the West Bank, of whom 1,850 are affiliated with Hamas.
The Hamas-affiliated Safa News Agency claimed that the strike occurred on the road between Atil and Zeita, north of Tulkarm, and that the car was transporting other “resistance fighters” in addition to Balidi.
Dr. Amin Khader, director of the Thabet Governmental Hospital in Tulkarm, stated that there were five fatalities as a result of the strike, including the 25-year-old Balidi, the Hamas-affiliated media outlet cited him as saying.
The remains of those killed were subsequently transferred to the hospital after the strike, Dr. Khader continued.
Citing the Palestinian Red Crescent, Arab media sources also reported that four others had been killed in the strike on the vehicle.
In a statement published in the early afternoon, along with video footage of the strike on the vehicle, the IDF and Shin Bet confirmed that a total of five terrorists had been in the vehicle.
According to the military, those inside the vehicle at the time were on their way to conduct a terror attack.
IDF activities throughout West Bank
According to Arab media, Israeli ground troops also operated in the area on Saturday morning, as well as in other locations throughout the West Bank.
The Hezbollah-owned Al-Manar satellite television station stated that the Israeli personnel were operating in Jenin, and Safa reported that armed clashes between Israeli forces and terrorists occurred in Qaffin, north of Tulkarm.
The IDF and Shin Bet announcement also confirmed that the two Israeli security organizations, along with the Israel Police, were conducting counterterrorism activities in the Tulkarm area.
Comments are closed.