The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed that for the first time in years, a terrorist cell was eliminated in an airstrike in Jenin.
A vehicle carrying a terrorist squad that had just carried out a shooting attack at the Jalameh checkpoint was targeted using an unmanned aerial vehicle and eliminated. The terrorist squad was responsible for previous shooting attacks.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant personally approved the drone strike. Afterwards he stated: “I praise the security forces who a short time ago carried out a targeted elimination of a terrorist squad that fired towards Israeli territory, and had previously carried out several shooting attacks.”
"We will take an offensive and proactive approach to combat terrorism, we will use all the means at our disposal and we will exact the heaviest price from every terrorist or terrorist emissary,” Gallant said.
This is the second time an IDF aircraft has been used in Jenin this week. On Monday, an IAF attack helicopter was deployed to Jenin to assist in the extraction of wounded soldiers who had been ambushed by terrorists in the city. This was the first time an attack helicopter had been deployed in Judea and Samaria since 2002, during the height of the Second Intifada.
Yesterday, two terrorists carried out a shooting attack at a gas station and restaurant near the Binyamin community of Eli, murdering four civilians, including two minors.
The wave of violence and terrorism committed against Jews and Israelis this year has led to growing calls for a military operation to eliminate terrorist infrastructure in Judea and Samaria.