Soldier lightly hurt during Nablus raid by Palestinian-set bomb
Military convoy also targeted by gunfire as it leaves West Bank city after arresting wanted man; Lion’s Den group claims responsibility
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Palestinians set off a large makeshift explosive device against an Israeli military convoy that was wrapping up an operation in the West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday morning, lightly injuring one soldier.
Footage published online showed the bomb exploding as an army jeep passed a makeshift roadblock set up by Palestinians
The Nablus-based Lion’s Den terror group claimed responsibility for setting off the bomb, as well as opening fire on troops as they left the city following an arrest raid.
A soldier in one of the armored vehicles was lightly hurt, a military spokesperson told The Times of Israel. He was taken to a hospital for further treatment.
The Israel Defense Forces said that during the raid in Nablus’s Old City, a wanted Palestinian man was arrested and two assault rifles were seized at his home. A second suspect was detained nearby, the IDF added.
Palestinian media reports said Israeli troops fired shoulder-launched missiles at a building in the city amid the raid.
Yepp, Local made
Lion’s Den operatives detonate an IED on the Israeli occupation forces vehicles whilst withdrawing from the city of Nablus. pic.twitter.com/jZo0b3KH7t
— Younis | يونس (@ytirawi) May 9, 2023
The IDF said Palestinian rioters hurled stones at forces during the operation, and gunmen opened fire and set off explosives as the troops left the city.
The military said troops responded with riot dispersal means at the rioters, and used live fire against the gunmen.
Palestinian health officials said a 14-year-old boy was shot and wounded during the raid. The teenager was brought to Rafidia Hospital after being shot in the chest, where he is listed in stable condition.
The IDF said troops detained another six wanted Palestinians during raids in other areas of the West Bank.
The eight wanted men were handed over to the Shin Bet for further questioning.
Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have been elevated for the past year, with the IDF conducting near-nightly raids in the West Bank amid a series of deadly Palestinian terror attacks. Those tensions have ramped up even further in recent weeks amid a cycle of Israeli raids and Palestinian revenge attacks, as well as an uptick in settler violence.
Since the beginning of the year, Palestinian attacks in Israel and the West Bank have killed 19 people and left several more seriously hurt. At least 101 Palestinians have been killed during that span, most of them while carrying out attacks or during clashes with security forces, but some were uninvolved civilians and others were killed under circumstances that are being investigated.
Also on Tuesday morning, the IDF launched an operation against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group in the Gaza Strip, targeting three senior members in a series of airstrikes.
