New Delhi: At least five people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank city of Tubas on Wednesday, according to Palestinian emergency services. The strike comes amid an ongoing Israeli military operation aimed at Iranian-backed militant groups in the region.The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that rescue crews recovered five bodies from the site and transferred them to a hospital. The Israeli military also confirmed the airstrike, stating that it targeted an armed militant group, though further details were not provided.As part of the counter-terrorism activity, an IAF (Israeli Air Force) aircraft struck an armed terrorist cell a short while ago in the area of Tubas, the military said in a statement.Israel military Following the airstrike, entrances and exits to Tubas were sealed off, and Israeli military vehicles, including armored personnel carriers and road diggers, moved into the city, which is located near the Jordanian border in the northern West Bank. The Israeli military has been conducting a series of operations across the northern West Bank for the past two weeks, with heavy raids in Tubas, Jenin, and Tulkarm.These areas are known for their strong presence of armed factions, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah. Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters have been frequent, leading to extensive infrastructure damage in the targeted cities. On Tuesday, a Palestinian man and woman were killed during an Israeli raid in Tulkarm, according to Palestinian health officials.Violence in the West Bank has surged since the war in Gaza began, with frequent Israeli raids, mass arrests, and regular confrontations. Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7 last year, more than 680 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank.
