According to the IDF, army helicopters opened fire on gunmen to help pick up the soldiers
Violent clashes erupted Monday in Jenin in the northern West Bank following an anti-terrorist operation by Israeli forces. During the clashes between armed Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, a Tsahal helicopter fired two rockets. The Israeli operation was still ongoing at 10:45 am. The IDF said it was conducting an operation to detain “wanted suspects” which resulted in “very intense exchanges of fire” between IDF forces and gunmen. “Army helicopters opened fire on gunmen to help pick up the soldiers,” the military said in a statement.
According to a Palestinian intelligence source, this is the first time since the end of the Second Intifada (Palestinian uprising, 2000-2005) that a helicopter has used missiles at Jenin.
The Israeli army said a military vehicle was damaged by one of several explosive devices thrown at its soldiers. The latter “reacted to live ammunition,” the army added.
Three Palestinians were killed in the raid, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, adding that 31 people were also injured. For its part, the Israeli army said seven of its soldiers were injured.
Footage circulating on social media shows Israeli forces operating in the city, with heavy gunfire heard in the background. Two wanted terrorists, Assem Abu al-Haija and Mussab Hassan al-Barmaki, were arrested during the operation.