(VINnews) — Three Palestinian terrorists were killed in gun battles with Israeli troops who entered Jenin in order to conduct arrests Thursday morning. The troops were fired on by terrorists and returned fire, killing three and wounding another 11. One Israeli soldier was lightly injured in the crossfire and taken to hospital for treatment. The gun battles continue in Jenin and some reports say that five terrorists have been killed.
Heavy gunfire was heard in videos posted from the city. Smoke rose from the center of the Jenin Refugee Camp where the firefights took place.
דיווח ראשוני: קרב קשה מתנהל בשעה האחרונה בין מחבלים לכוחות צה”ל שנכנסו לתוך עומק העיר ג’נין. מדובר לפי הדיווחים על לפחות 5 מחבלים הרוגים ועוד פצועים במקום. והקרב ממשיך עדיין. pic.twitter.com/H6valh7TFq
— ?חדשות בסטטוס (@StatusNewsIL) March 31, 2022
Media reports stated that the operation involved coordination between infantry forces and the Duvdevan commando unit, and was part of a widespread operation to arrest suspects who are abetting or actively participating in terror activities against Israelis.
The Ynet news site reported that the operation involved hundreds of soldiers. The report said the operation in the city was still ongoing, and that forces were surrounding a compound where several suspects were believed to be barricaded.
מבצע משולב כעת של סיירת גולני ויחידת המסתערבים דובדבן בג׳נין. חילופי אש באור יום. שלושה מחבלים הרוגים ולוחם דובדבן פצוע קל מאד. pic.twitter.com/2lr5qtHBVf
— Or Heller אור הלר (@OrHeller) March 31, 2022
ביח רמבם: לוחם דובדבן הפצוע קל מהאירוע בג’נין שדווח בתקשורת -פונה לרמב”ם במסוק. בהכרה מלאה וכאמור קל. כעת בהדמיות בחדר הלם pic.twitter.com/u8tmYIZoJp
— Or Heller אור הלר (@OrHeller) March 31, 2022
Ynet added that the Jenin arrests targeted individuals suspected of planning future attacks, as well as some thought to be tied to Tuesday’s deadly attack in Bnei Brak, perpetrated by a Palestinian terrorist from a village near Jenin.