5 Palestinians killed, 7 Israeli soldiers injured in major West Bank clashes
IDF helicopters carried out rare airstrikes at an open area near Jenin to extract IDF soldiers injured by an explosive device targeting their vehicle.
Five Palestinians were killed in West Bank clashes on Monday, leaving another seven Israeli troops and 45 Palestinians wounded.
The clashes erupted after IDF arrested a Hamas and Islamic Jihad operative near Jenin when improvised explosive devices (IED) targeted Israeli military vehicles at around 7:00 AM, leaving five Border Police forces and two IDF soldiers injured.
The IDF said that a “massive exchange of fire took place between the forces and armed gunmen in the area” following the detonation of the explosive devices.
Israeli helicopter launching air strikes against Palestinian gunmen in Jenin, West Bank, to extract IDF soldiers from military operation that killed at least 3 Palestinians. https://t.co/tU5znkiQi0
— Jotam Confino (@mrconfino) June 19, 2023
IDF launched what it called a “logistical operation under fire” to extract the wounded troops, using Apache helicopters to fire at open areas in order to “stop the shooting and calm down” the area, according to IDF spokesperson.
The use of helicopter airstrikes in the West Bank is extremely rare, illustrating the seriousness of the situation. Six hours after the clashes erupted, Israeli special forces were still trying to extract the last Israeli soldiers as well as five vehicles stuck in the conflict are.
Following the death of 15 Y/O Ahmad Saqer during an Israeli incursion into Jenin today, the UK urges Israel to conduct a swift and thorough investigation. Over 20 children have been killed in the West Bank this year by ISF. 1/2
— UK in Jerusalem???????? (@UKinJerusalem) June 19, 2023
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called it “yet another operation among many, that have been conducted by the IDF, ISA and Border Police, during which our troops showed courage and professionalism in the face of heavy fire.”
“In fighting terrorism, we may not compromise. We will continue to fight terrorism proactively. We will use all the tools at our disposal and strike terrorists wherever they may be. Terrorists will not find a safe haven – not in Jenin, not in Nablus and not in Gaza,” Gallant said.
Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich called demanded an “urgent” meeting of the governments’ security cabinet following the intense clashes, saying “the time has come to utilise air forces and armoured forces.”
Meanwhile, both Jordan and Egypt condemned the Israeli “aggression” in Jenin.
The IDF has operated on a near-daily basis in the West Bank the past year, saying it has targeted terror cells planning attacks on Israelis.
While the army says the majority of the estimated 120 killed in 2023 are either terrorists or have somehow been involved in terror related incidents, numerous civilians have also been killed during the operations, some of whom were caught in clashes between IDF soldiers and Palestinian gunmen.
Palestinian terror attacks in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Israel have killed 20 people so far in 2023.
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