IDF troops in Nablus
צילום: רויטרס
IDF kills 2 gunmen in Nablus
IDF soldiers operating in refugee camp near Nablus open fire on two gunmen who tried to escape arrest; one of them identified as senior al-Aqsa Brigades operative
The Israel Defense Forces killed two Palestinian gunmen on Tuesday afternoon in the el-Ayn refugee camp near Nablus, the army says.
One of the gunmen was identified as Adel Abu el-Rish a senior operative of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror group.
The IDF says el-Rish was responsible for a series of attacks against Israeli targets in the Nablus area, liaising between Hizbullah agents and terror groups in the West Bank.
The second gunmen was named as Firas Abu el-Rish, Adel's relative.
The army said the two were killed after ignoring orders to step out of the car they were occupying and attempting to escape arrest by speeding away.
Soldiers opened fire killing the two and later confiscated an automatic rifle they found in the car.
The IDF lately stepped up operations in the Nablus area after receiving intelligence tips that terrorists there are planning attacks against Israel.
A gunman who opened fire at troops in Nablus' Balata refugee camp was injured earlier Tuesday.
Gunmen killed near Jenin
In another development, two gunmen were killed in a village south of Jenin overnight Tuesday. One of the gunmen was identified as a 19-year-old Islamic Jihad activist.Palestinian eyewitnesses said 20 military jeeps entered the Kabbatiyeh village near Jenin and arrested at least one terror suspect after intensive searches.
The al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad's military wing, vowed to avenge the death of one of its operatives, saying it will carry out a bombing in Israel soon.
"Israel's operations against Palestinian groups won't stop the continuation of the resistance to the occupation," read a statement issued by the group.
Efrat Weiss contributed to this report
