Heavy gun battle in Jenin between Israeli troops, attackers; 6 Palestinians hurt
Israel Police says counterterrorism troops came under ‘massive fire’ during overnight West Bank arrest operations; 1 Palestinian in serious condition; no Israeli injuries
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Undercover Border Police forces clashed with Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank city of Jenin during a heavy exchange of fire early Tuesday morning, with several of the attackers hit, Israel Police said in a statement.
Police said members of its counterterrorism unit, known by its Hebrew acronym Yamam, “neutralized a number of terrorists” who had opened fire at the troops during arrest operations in Jenin.
Forces came under “massive fire” during the operations, police said.
The attackers also hurled explosive devices, Molotov cocktails and rocks at the Israeli troops, police said.
Six Palestinians were hit by Israeli fire, including one who was hospitalized in serious condition, the official Palestinian Authority’s WAFA news agency reported.
There were no injuries to Israeli forces, but an armored vehicle was slightly damaged from the gunfire, police said.
اشتباك مسلح بين مقاومـــ ــين وقوات الاحتلال في جنين فجر اليوم. pic.twitter.com/p290AM8DP0
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) August 3, 2021
The initial arrest operation in the northern West Bank city was conducted jointly with Israel Defense Force soldiers, police said.
The statement did not provide any further details about the arrest operation, the nature of the activities, what the suspects were wanted for, or whether any of those shot had been targeted for arrest.
Last month, six Palestinian gunmen were shot during a similar incident in Jenin.
