Two militants killed in Israeli air strike on West Bank

Two Palestinian militants were killed in an Israeli air strike on the city of Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank, said Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza.

The group identified the deceased as members of its armed wing. While witnesses in Tulkarm reported an ongoing raid, the Israeli military had not issued an immediate comment on the operation, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the deaths, but did not release the identities of the individuals involved.

The airstrike is part of Israel’s increased focus on militant groups in the West Bank following the ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas has criticized Israel’s ongoing military actions, which are seen as part of a broader campaign against armed Palestinian factions.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have continued a large-scale operation in the northern West Bank city of Jenin. The operation, which began over a week ago, has involved hundreds of Israeli troops supported by armored vehicles, drones, and helicopters. Thick smoke has been rising from the Jenin refugee camp, a long-standing stronghold of armed groups. Witnesses have reported the destruction of buildings and infrastructure in the camp, which houses descendants of Palestinians who fled or were displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

At least 16 Palestinians have been killed in Jenin and surrounding areas during the operation, including fighters from Hamas and the Iran-backed Islamic Jihad. The situation in the camp remains tense, with many residents fleeing their homes amid the ongoing assault.

The Israeli military (IDF) stated that its troops were conducting a counterterrorism operation targeting suspected militants barricaded in a building. It acknowledged the report of civilian casualties and stated that the incident is under review.

The ongoing violence in the West Bank, including airstrikes, raids, and clashes, is contributing to further tensions in the already volatile region, as both sides remain entrenched in their conflict.

By Vafa Guliyeva