From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
IDF used ruse to bring 2 senior terror commanders to Tulkarem area where strike carried out
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Israel Defense Forces assesses that the drone strike in the West Bank city of Tulkarem this morning, killed at least six gunmen, including two senior terror commanders.
The two commanders were named by Palestinian media as Ashraf Nafeh, the head of Hamas in Tulkarem, and Muhammad Abu Abdo, the head of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades in Tulkarem.
The IDF used a ruse to bring the senior commanders to an area where they could be targeted, according to military sources.
Also among those killed was an armed female combatant who was dressed up as a medic, military sources say.
This video circulating on social media is said to have been taken moments before the drone strike in Tulkarem, showing Muhammad Abu Abdo, the commander of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in the area. It also shows an armed medic. pic.twitter.com/oPtLMgqei9
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) July 23, 2024
The IDF raid in Tulkarem this morning was part of a series of operations against terror activity in northern West Bank refugee camps.
The military says it has recently identified attempts by the Gaza Strip-based Hamas and Islamic Jihad to ramp up attacks in West Bank, including by funneling money and providing know-how.
