Combat helicopters attack near Jenin
Exchanges of fire during the operation of security forces in and around Jenin: Two terror suspects were arrested, after the Border Police, together with a patrol of paratroopers, entered the Palestinian village of Burkin, near Jenin early Monday morning, as well as the refugee camp itself.
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Explosives were placed on the road the forces used to leave Jenin and others were thrown toward them – and an Israel Defense Forces armored vehicle was hit by a fire bomb, which exploded underneath it. The forces are working to rescue the vehicles that were hit by fire and, according to the Palestinians, two of them were disabled. The incident is taking place against the backdrop of the IDF's attempt to deal with the "explosives terrorism" that is developing in the region in a variety of ways.
The security establishment is concerned about the incident, and the IDF is investigating whether this morning's activity was an ambush, in which the terrorists knew the route of the troops' exit or guessed it – and placed significant explosives there, which managed to hit armored vehicles. At the same time as the activity, the Palestinians released footage of an IDF Apache helicopter that fired shots, which was intended to mislead ground missiles.
The Palestinians have reported that one person was killed and at least 22 others were wounded by gunfire, including six in serious condition. According to Palestinian reports, large forces entered Jenin, and clashes began in several areas, during which – according to the Palestinians – the soldiers fired live fire, stun grenades and tear gas.
The activity in the Jenin area Monday morning comes in the wake of the security establishment's assessment that the IDF is very close to launching a broad military operation that will focus on the northern West Bank.
Officials in the defense establishment told Ynet last week that in the last year, when Operation Breakwater took place, the IDF is operating more on the offensive in the area than in the past, and the forces are working in a targeted, aggressive and surgical manner. But the purpose of such an operation, if it is carried out, is to act more broadly and use a "cutting the grass" strategy, with the ultimate goal being to restore deterrence.
Such an operation will also have broad consequences regarding cooperation with the Palestinians. At the moment, the IDF would like to see more involvement of the Palestinian Authority in arrests and in the prevention of terrorism. The security establishment is also preparing for the possibility of security tensions, and even the cessation of security coordination with the Palestinian mechanisms during an operation.
First published: 09:30, 06.19.23