Israel has launched a widescale counter-terrorism operation in recent days against the new Palestinian terror group, Lion’s Den, with the Israel Defense Forces undertaking a number of raids in the West Bank city of Nablus.
A top leader of the Lions Den terror group was killed along with four others during an exchange of fire with the IDF during the operation.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid said Tuesday that anyone who hurts Israeli citizens “should know it will end badly.”
“The terrorist Wadee al-Houh was killed in the exchange of fire,” Lapid told the Kan public broadcaster.
“Israel will never be deterred from acting for its security. Part of this squad are people who hurt Ido Baruch, and the moment they hurt us, IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians, they should know it will end badly,” he added, referring to a soldier killed in a shooting attack near Nablus last month.
In a later statement, Lapid said he had spoken with the commanders involved in the raid to receive further details and to congratulate them.
The premier said it was part of a wider operation against terror that he had been presented with by security chiefs in recent days, and emphasized the need for continued vigilance.
Israel Defense Forces soldiers destroyed an explosives workshop in Nablus in the early hours of Tuesday, the military said.
Blasts and gunshots rang out for over an hour in Nablus after a large convoy of Israel Defense Forces vehicles entered the West Bank city. The IDF said no soldiers were hurt in the overnight operation.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in a Tuesday morning Twitter post, “There aren’t and won’t ever be sanctuary cities for terrorists.”
“We will continue to act against anyone who tries to harm the citizens of Israel, wherever and whenever necessary,” he added.
Israeli security forces successfully operated against Palestinian terrorists in Judea and Samaria – arresting suspects and eliminating at least 5 terrorists.
No one was injured on our side. Praise God. pic.twitter.com/uEHAifUyaV
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) October 25, 2022
Times of Israel reports that Nablus has been the focus of weeks of operations targeting the Lion’s Den terror group, responsible for a string of attacks on military positions, settlements and other targets.
The recently formed group made up of members of other terror organizations has claimed a slew of attacks in the weeks since Israel killed senior al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade member Ibrahim al-Nabulsi in late August.
One Israeli soldier — Staff Sgt. Ido Baruch, 21 — was killed in an attack by the group and a second person was lightly injured in a separate assault on civilian vehicles. The other attacks have been ineffectual, but videos of the shootings uploaded to social media have helped it win it massive popularity on the Palestinian street in a short period of time.
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