IDF says shots fired at two military posts in West Bank, with no injuries
Military launches hunt for gunmen, amid uptick in attacks
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Shots were fired Sunday night at two Israel Defense Forces positions near the northern West Bank city of Nablus and the Palestinian town of Silwad, the military said.
No soldiers were hurt in the two incidents, which occurred near the settlement of Yitzhar, near Nablus, and Ofra, near Silwad in the central West Bank.
The two attacks were reported to have occurred within a short timeframe.
The military said troops returned fire in both cases, and launched a manhunt for the gunmen.
In footage published by Palestinian media outlets, heavy gunfire can be heard in the Silwad area.
The incidents followed an uptick in shooting attacks in the areas in recent weeks.
استمرار الاشتباكات المسلحة بين مقاومين وجيش الاحتلال في بلدة سلواد شرق رام الله. pic.twitter.com/FU6VmtxNJc
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) August 28, 2022
Tensions have escalated in the West Bank, with Israeli security forces stepping up arrest raids and operations following a deadly wave of terror attacks against Israelis that left 19 people dead earlier this year.
On Friday night an Israeli security vehicle came under fire near the settlement of Shavei Shomron in the northern West Bank. No one was injured in the attack, though the car belonging to the settlement’s security team was damaged.
Last Saturday night, an Israeli bus traveling along Route 60, the West Bank’s main north-south highway, came under fire near Silwad. No injuries were caused in that attack.
On Thursday morning, two Palestinians were arrested in Silwad, the IDF said. The pair were being questioned over their involvement in the shooting attack at the bus. During the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, troops seized two assault rifles in the town.
In raids across the West Bank early Sunday, four wanted Palestinians were arrested, the IDF said.
