Israeli Military Operation Sparks Escalating Clashes in West Bank

The Israeli military launched a major operation in the West Bank city of Tulkarm, killing five Palestinian fighters hiding in a mosque. The raid, involving helicopters, drones, and armored vehicles, led to widespread clashes, killings, and a telecom outage. Overall tensions have intensified since the Gaza conflict began.

Israeli military forces executed a large-scale operation in the West Bank city of Tulkarm, resulting in the deaths of five Palestinian fighters who were taking refuge inside a mosque. The raid, which began early Wednesday, involved extensive troop deployment, helicopters, drones, and armored personnel carriers, targeting volatile areas including Tulkarm, Jenin, and the Jordan Valley.

A Reuters witness reported a complete network outage affecting Jawwal, a significant telecommunications provider in the Palestinian territories. Palestinian health officials confirmed the deaths of at least 12 Palestinians during the Wednesday operations.

On Thursday, Israeli bulldozers navigated through Jenin's deserted streets while drones hovered overhead and troops checked ambulances outside the main hospital. The military had blocked hospital access to prevent fighters from hiding there. The armed factions of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah claimed they detonated bombs against Israeli military vehicles during the raids.

(With inputs from agencies.)