IDF probe of West Bank attack finds gunman armed with M-16 managed to sneak up to military post

According to an initial IDF probe of this morning’s shooting attack, the Palestinian gunman managed to sneak up to a military post at a checkpoint near the West Bank village of Tayasir, where he opened fire on troops just before 6 a.m.

The assailant was armed with an M-16 assault rifle and two magazines, and wearing a tactical vest.

The IDF’s probe has found that the gunman approached the army post on foot undetected, where he surprised two soldiers who were getting up to open the Tayasir checkpoint for Palestinian traffic.

The soldiers, who were in full military gear, exchanged fire with the gunman at close range at the entrance to the post, which includes a watchtower.

Amid exchanges of fire that lasted several minutes, the gunman managed to enter the post itself and reach the entrance to the watchtower.

A backup team then arrived at the scene and opened fire on the gunman from outside the army post, causing him to flee.

During the gunman’s attempts to run away from the post, one soldier hurled a grenade at him, and others opened fire, killing the assailant.