Israeli Airstrike in Tubas: Escalating Violence in the West Bank

An Israeli airstrike killed five people in Tubas, West Bank. This action, part of a wider operation targeting militant groups, heightened tensions. Palestinian health authorities reported over 680 Palestinian deaths since Oct. 7 last year. Meanwhile, about 40 Israelis have been killed in related clashes.

An Israeli airstrike on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals in the West Bank city of Tubas, according to Palestinian emergency services. This strike is part of an extended operation by Israeli security forces aimed at Iranian-backed militant groups.

The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed the recovery of five bodies and their transfer to a hospital. The Israeli military also confirmed the strike, identifying the target as an armed militant group without divulging further details.

“An IAF (Israeli Air Force) aircraft struck an armed terrorist cell a short while ago in the area of Tubas,” read an Israeli military statement. The city was cordoned off, and military vehicles, including road diggers and armored personnel carriers, were seen operating within its confines.

Israeli operations have been ongoing for two weeks in the northern West Bank, covering cities such as Tubas, Jenin, and Tulkarm, which are known for the presence of armed factions including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah. Intense clashes and significant infrastructural damage have occurred as Israeli forces targeted militant bases.

On Tuesday, a Palestinian man and woman were killed during a raid in Tulkarm, reported Palestinian health authorities. Since the onset of the Gaza war, violence in the West Bank has intensified, leading to numerous arrests and frequent gunbattles between Israeli security forces and Palestinian fighters.

The death toll has surpassed 680 Palestinians, including both fighters and civilians, since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7 last year, as per Palestinian health authorities. During the same timeframe, around 40 Israeli troops and civilians have been killed in various attacks and clashes, according to Israel’s domestic security agency.

Recently, a car ramming attack east of Ramallah injured an Israeli man, the military reported.

(With inputs from agencies.)