Two Israeli airstrikes in the West Bank killed nine Palestinian militants on Saturday, as tensions remain high in the region.
The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the attack and said its force struck a vehicle in the rural area northwest of the city of Tulkarem on Saturday morning.
Five people in the car died. Israel’s military said these people were on their way to carry out an attack, The Associated Press reported.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, their bodies were taken to a hospital and identified as group militants.
An Associated Press reporter at the scene said the airstrike occurred on the road connecting the villages of Zeita and Qaffin.
The Palestinian News Agency Wafa said the bodies were “burned and charred beyond recognition.”
One of the men killed was commander of the Tulkarm brigades, a Hamas media outlet said.according to Reuters. Palestinian Islamic Jihad groups said the other four men were fighters.
“The IDF attacked a vehicle with five terrorists on their way to carry out a terrorist attack in the area of Kafin village in Manashe division under Shin Bet intelligence guidance and using Air Force aircraft,” the Israel Defense Forces said. (IDF) said in an online post.
Hours later, a second attack targeted another group, this time against fighters who had fired on troops, Israel’s military said.
In another online post, the IDF announced that “another terrorist squad has been eliminated.”
“Four terrorists were identified who opened fire on our forces, under the guidance of Shin Bet intelligence, Dovdevan fighters and Unit 626. An Air Force aircraft destroyed the squadron,” said the IDF.
Violence in the West Bank had increased before Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, but has only increased since then.
In recent days, the Israeli military has claimed responsibility for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, one of the main leaders of Hamas. He was killed in Iran while visiting the new president’s inauguration, and his death raised fears of retaliation from Tehran and an even bigger regional war.
President Biden and Vice President Harris spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week and urged him to reach a ceasefire agreement.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
