At least four Palestinians were killed during a firefight with Israeli security forces who had entered the West Bank city of Nablus overnight, Palestinian officials said Tuesday.
The IDF said that in the raid of the city's old market, they destroyed an apartment, belonging to a wanted terror suspect believed to head the local militant group dubbed the Lion's Den, which was used as a laboratory to make explosives.
The military said their intelligence was precise and led them to a location where explosives used in terror attacks had been made.
Troops raid Nablus
In a statement, the IDF said that local residents rioted during the operation and hurled explosives at the troops.
According to the Palestinians, as the troops surrounded the building, they exchanged fire with suspects inside and with members of the Palestinian Authority security services, ultimately causing the bombs to explode and resulting in the death of the group's leader Wadia Alhuh and three others including a member of the Palestinian Authority security forces. Twenty-two Palestinians were also wounded in the shootout.
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Members of the Lion's Den militant group in Nablus reported killed in an overnight raid by troops
Residents were called over mosque loudspeakers to come out and join the fight against the Israeli force.
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Palestinians gather outside Nablus hospital after IDF raid on the city's old market
(Photo: EPA)
Meanwhile, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an IDF post near Jenin, troops returned fire and reported they had injured at least two.
A spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority on Tuesday dubbed Israel's overnight raid in Nablus and its continued activity in the city a "war crime".
Nabil Rudeineh said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was monitoring the events closely and had praised locals for their fortitude in defending their land.
"Abbas describes the continued assaults on Nablus as a war crime and the occupation government will bear responsibility for their aggression," Rudeineh said in a statement.