RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) -An Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in the occupied West Bank killed a commander of the Palestinian armed group Hamas on Saturday, Hamas media reported, while Palestinian news agency WAFA said four other men were also killed.
The identities of the others were unclear, according to the WAFA report, which cited health officials.
The Israeli military said it carried out an airstrike against a militant cell around the West Bank city of Tulkarm. Hamas media said a vehicle carrying fighters was hit and that one of its Tulkarm brigade commanders was killed.
Violence in the West Bank was rising before the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on October 7, and has increased since then, with frequent Israeli attacks on the territory, which is among those that Palestinians seek for a state.
Regional tensions rose this week following the assassination of Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyehin Tehran on Wednesday, a day after an Israeli attack in Beirut killed Hezbollah’s senior military commander, Fuad Shukr.
Haniyeh’s death was one of a series of assassinations of senior Hamas figures, as the war in Gaza between Palestinian militants and Israel approaches its 11th month and concerns grow that the conflict is spreading across the country. Middle East.
Hamas and Iran accused Israel of carrying out the assassination and promised to retaliate against their enemy. Israel neither claimed nor denied responsibility for the death.
Hezbollah, like Hamas, is supported by Iran and has also vowed revenge.
(Reporting by Alli Sawafta and Maayan Lubell; Editing by William Mallard)
