Special forces kill terrorist wearing suicide belt in northern Israel

Special forces shot and killed a man wearing a suicide belt in northern Israel on Monday. 

The incident happened after a driver was seriously injured in a bomb attack in northern Israel on Monday morning. The bomb went off at the Megiddo Junction, injuring a 21-year-old man, Shareef ad-Din, from the Arab village of Salem.

Following the highly unusual incident, the IDF, Shin Bet and Police began a joint pursuit to find the assailant, setting up roadblocks across northern Israel.

Israeli special forces stopped a truck passing a checkpoint near moshav Ya’ara near the Lebanese border, identifying a man wearing a suicide belt and carrying a rifle and a handgun.

The special forces shot and killed him on the spot, suspecting he was behind the bomb attack at Megiddo Junction.

While there are still many unsolved questions, the IDF suspects that the man, whose identity is still not revealed, was picked up by a truck, and wanted to carry out another attack.

The IDF assumes that the terrorist crossed the border from Lebanon into Israel and tried to get back. Israeli authorities suspect Hezbollah might be involved. The driver is currently being investigated by Israeli authorities.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security assessment with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

“In recent days, the Prime Minister has been updated and is following security developments together with the senior security leadership,” the prime minister’s office said.