The Israel Defense Forces overnight Tuesday thwarted a stabbing during operations in al-Walaja, a village northwest of Bethlehem.
According to the IDF, an individual armed with a knife lunged at soldiers and attempted to steal their weapons. The troops shot and neutralizing the assailant. No injuries were reported among Israeli forces.
In separate operations across Samaria overnight Tuesday, IDF troops and Israel Border Police forces apprehended five terrorists, including one in the village of Tamun who according to security forces was planning an attack.
In Far’a, forces carried out a covert entry into a building and arrested a suspect involved in financing terror activity and smuggling weapons, according to the military.
Additionally, in the Jenin area, security forces detained two individuals accused of manufacturing explosives for use in attacks.
“Israeli security forces will continue to operate to thwart terrorism throughout Judea and Samaria in order to maintain the security of Israeli civilians,” the IDF said.
As part of the expanded counter-terrorism activity in northern Samaria, five new IDF battalions began operations in the Balata camp in Nablus (Shechem), along with other Israeli security forces, the military said.
So far, hundreds of structures have been searched, seven suspected terrorists were apprehended and “additional weapons and military equipment were located and confiscated,” according to the IDF.
In addition, Israeli security forces continue counter-terrorism raids in the areas of Meithalun, Salfit, Jayus and Qalqilya. In the latter city, three terrorists were apprehended and four assault rifles were confiscated.
“Apprehended individuals and confiscated weapons were transferred to Israeli security forces for further processing,” read the army’s statement.