In a rare daytime counterterrorism operation, a large number of Israeli security forces on Thursday morning entered Jenin after precise intelligence information revealed imminent plans of an Islamic Jihad terror cell to carry out a major terror attack in Israel.

The targets of the operation, carried out by Yamam, Border Guard, and IDF special forces officers and Shin Bet operatives, were a senior Islamic Jihad member and two other terrorists who were about to carry out a major attack.

Undercover officers launched the operation by entering Jenin in a commercial milk truck, parking close to the apartments where the terrorists were hiding. However, the true identity of the “workers” were quickly revealed as the terrorists had placed barricades by the entrance to Jenin which set off alarms and a fierce gun battle began more quickly than expected. The officers were quickly backed up by additional forces and a four-hour gun battle ensued, during which nine Palestinians were killed, including a Palestinian Authority police officer who was shooting at IDF forces, and dozens were wounded.

Israeli security forces came under massive fire from hundreds of Palestinians, with additional Palestinians throwing gas canisters at soldiers. IDF soldiers shot anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles and explosives at the terrorists. B’Chasdei Hashem, there were no injuries among Israeli security forces.

Many IDF tanks were hit by explosives and had to be hauled out of the city after the operation by tow trucks.

According to a joint statement by the IDF, Shin Bet and Border Police, “the three wanted Islamic Jihad terrorists who were eliminated are suspected of carrying out several shooting attacks against IDF forces and planning additional significant attacks. While soldiers were in the course of surrounding the building where the wanted persons were, two armed wanted persons were identified who fled from the building. The forces fired toward them and neutralized them.”

It was also reported that “one of the wanted persons who was in the building turned himself in to the forces on the spot. Also, engineering forces entered the building to detonate two explosives that were used by the wanted persons. There was a fourth armed wanted person who was also neutralized by the soldiers.”

“During the arrest attempt, shots were fired at our forces, who returned fire at the armed men. Several armed men were wounded. Claims of additional deaths as a result of the exchange of fire are being investigated. There are no casualties to our forces.”

“The activity was carried out following targeted intelligence information from the Shin Bet which led Israeli security forces to a hidden apartment in the Jenin refugee camp where the wanted persons were hiding.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)