Israel carrying out biggest counter-terror operation in West Bank since Second Intifada

More than 1,300 soldiers take part in operation, hundreds were arrested

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At least 1,300 Israeli military soldiers are continuing to carry out a massive counter-terror operation in the Palestinian town of Jenin, in what is shaping up to be the largest Israeli operation in the West Bank since the end of the Second Intifada in 2005.

The current operation has now lasted longer than Operation Home and Garden in Jenin, which took place last July.

The IDF confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the operation that began in the early hours of Tuesday morning, and whose scope wasn’t announced beforehand, was still taking place in the Samaria region.

So far, five Israeli soldiers have been injured during the fighting, mainly by shrapnel, and were evacuated to Emek Medical Center in Afula. One of them is now being hospitalized following an operation.

Over 1,300 soldiers of the IDF, the domestic intelligence service Shin Bet and Israel Border Police, most of them military reservists, are taking part in the searches throughout Jenin and its nearby refugee camp.

More than 600 suspects were detained, with more than 30 of them being transferred to interrogation facilities.

Israel Defense Forces discovered hundreds of explosives and destroyed 8 production laboratories.

More than 10 underground tunnel shafts were located, some of them being used as weapons caches, and will be prepared for destruction. In addition, 40 weapons have been confiscated.

Contrary to Israeli policy over the past 20 years, during this operation, the Israeli Air Force has carried out multiple airstrikes with drones. Seven terrorists who endangered the soldiers were eliminated.

Since the Second Intifada, Israel has generally refrained from using air power in the West Bank.

This is the 16th anti-terror operation in Jenin since the start of the war between Israel and the terror organization Hamas, according to Army Radio.

Jenin, in northern Samaria, has developed into a major terror center, especially since the creation of the terror group ‘Jenin Battalion’ a few years back.

During the 16 raids, more than 60 terrorists have been eliminated so far, and more than 100 arrested, which represents a significant part of the group’s strength.

Israeli security forces have stepped up anti-terror operations in the West Bank since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, having arrested over 2,200 wanted suspects, some 1,100 of whom are known-affiliates of Hamas.