West Bank latest: Israeli military says 5 militants killed hiding in mosque
The Israeli military said a well-known local commander was among five militants killed after having "hidden inside a mosque" on Thursday, as it pressed ahead with the biggest operation in the occupied West Bank in more than 20 years.
The Israeli military said a well-known local commander was among five militants killed after having "hidden inside a mosque" on Thursday, as it pressed ahead with the biggest operation in the occupied West Bank in more than 20 years.
Israeli troops launched the sweeping raids early Wednesday, raising international alarm as the U.S. ally wages an ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip and engages in a standoff with Iran that has fueled fears of a widening regional conflict.
The 5 deaths Israeli authorities reported in the city of Tulkarem, including that of a local commander, added to 9 militants they said were killed a day earlier. Palestinian health officials had said Wednesday that at least 11 people had been killed, while Hamas had said that 10 of its fighters have been killed across multiple locations, according to The Associated Press.
In video shared on social media and geolocated by NBC News, Israeli troops could be seen moving through a cloud of smoke, with birds appearing to scatter as gunshots ring out in eastern Jenin.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called the violence "deeply concerning" in a post on X as he called for "an immediate cessation" of Israel's operations in the territory.
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