Escalating Tensions in West Bank: Two Killed in Tulkarm Clash

Israeli security forces killed two Palestinians in Tulkarm, West Bank, amid renewed military activity. Armed factions Fatah and Islamic Jihad confirmed their involvement in gunbattles. This comes days after a significant operation targeting militant groups, resulting in numerous casualties and extensive infrastructure damage.

On Tuesday, Israeli security forces fatally shot two individuals in Tulkarm, a city in the West Bank, according to Palestinian health authorities. The military had re-entered the city just days after concluding one of its largest operations in recent months.

The factions' armed wings Fatah and Islamic Jihad announced that their fighters were engaged in gunbattles with Israeli forces. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli troops and military vehicles had surrounded the government hospital in Tulkarm at the start of the operation.

Last Friday, Israeli forces concluded a nine-day operation involving intense fighting in Tulkarm and Jenin. The military stated that the operation aimed to thwart Iranian-backed militant groups planning attacks on Israeli civilians. Approximately 40 Palestinians, including both fighters and civilians, and one Israeli soldier were killed. Infrastructure was heavily damaged, leaving the cities with disrupted services and trenched roadways.

(With inputs from agencies.)