IDF says 10 terror operatives killed in Wednesday drone strike in northern West Bank
Hamas denounces attack in town of Tamun, confirms at least five were its members; army says two were behind deadly bombing
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The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday evening carried out a drone strike in the northern West Bank, with the Palestinian Authority reporting at least 10 people were killed.
The IDF later said that the strike in the town of Tamun had eliminated at least 10 armed terror operatives, including two behind a deadly bombing attack.
Hamas issued a statement condemning the strike, which came during a major counterterrorism offensive in the northern West Bank.
“The escalating crimes of the fascist occupation in the West Bank and its continued policy of assassinations against our heroic resistance fighters and mujahideen… are a reaffirmation of the occupation’s criminal approach against our people and a failed attempt to break our valiant resistance,” said Hamas, later confirming that five of those killed were members of the terror group.
According to the IDF, among the 10 Palestinians killed in the strike were Omar Basharat and Muntaser Ali Muhammad Bani Odeh, who detonated a bomb in Tamun on January 20 that killed Sgt. First Class (res.) Eviatar Ben Yehuda and injured several others.
The pair were also behind additional shooting and bombing attacks in the West Bank, the army said.
The IDF released footage of the strike.
צה״ל ושב״כ חיסלו באמצעות כלי טיס של חיל-האוויר כעשרה מחבלים, ביניהם שני המחבלים שהיו מעורבים בפיצוץ המטען בו נפל רס״ל (במיל׳) אביתר בן יהודה ז״ל ונפצעו שלושה לוחמים נוספים
בפעילות משותפת של צה"ל ושב"כ אמש, כלי-טיס של חיל-האוויר תקף ריכוז מחבלים חמושים במרחב טמון שבחטיבת מנשה,… pic.twitter.com/XO6crZaa4q
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) January 30, 2025
The ongoing IDF offensive, dubbed Operation Iron Wall, has primarily focused on the city and refugee camp of Jenin but on Monday expanded to Tulkarem.
Visiting Jenin earlier Wednesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed the IDF would remain in the camp even after the military operation there, “to ensure the terror does not return.” His visit came hours after the PA health ministry reported two Palestinians were killed there overnight by Israeli forces.
The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel out of the Gaza Strip ignited the war there. The Palestinian Authority says over 800 Palestinians have been killed. Most appear to have been gunmen killed in battle during Israeli arrest raids, but the dead also include people killed during violent protests, as well as civilian bystanders.
During the same period, 46 people, including Israeli security personnel, have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank. Another seven members of the security forces were killed in clashes with terror operatives in the West Bank.
There has also been an uptick in settler violence against Palestinians and Palestinian attacks on Israelis since the start of the war.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.