IDF kills bomb-wielding terrorist in Samaria

Israeli forces on Wednesday night killed a Palestinian terrorist who threw an explosive device at troops during an operation near Qabatiya in northern Samaria, the military said.

After the assailant was neutralized, soldiers discovered several additional explosive devices in his vehicle, which were safely dismantled.

No IDF casualties were reported.

Israeli forces launched a “broad” counter-terrorism operation in northern Samaria following air strikes earlier Tuesday night.

The Israel Defense Forces, Israel Police and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said intelligence indicated attempts to establish terrorist strongholds and build terror infrastructure in the area.

The Israeli Air Force conducted preemptive strikes ahead of the ground operation “to isolate and contain the area,” the military said.

Following the strikes, ground forces moved in to search “dozens” of structures and question suspects. During one sweep, troops uncovered an observation and control room and seized funds designated for terrorist activity, according to the joint statement.

In total, security forces searched over 220 sites, questioned dozens of suspects, and apprehended several wanted individuals, according to the army.

On Thursday, the IDF announced that Border Police undercover units were operating in the city of Jenin under the command of the IDF’s Menashe Brigade, also known as the Jenin Brigade, which operates under the command of the Judea and Samaria Division.

In a separate operation, the IAF was providing “aerial assistance to the soldiers on the ground,” the military said, without providing more details on either event.

Earlier this week, Israeli troops killed three terrorists in Judea and Samaria who had participated in attacks targeting IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians.

Israel won’t let terrorism take root in the area and IDF troops will thwart that “proactively,” the IDF said.

Earlier this month, the Israeli military completed a three-day “Lion’s Roar” training exercise in the Judea, Samaria and Jordan Valley area which involved the Judea and Samaria Division and the 96th “Gilead” Reserve Division, led by the Central Command.

More than 180 IAF planes provided support to ground forces, who trained for more than 40 different scenarios.

The exercise incorporated lessons learned from Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks, including initial strikes, recognizing the critical impact of early response, rapid readiness, deployment of special forces and full mobilization of IDF troops.

Palestinian terrorists targeted Israeli Jews in Judea and Samaria at least 6,343 times last year, according to figures published by Rescuers Without Borders (Hatzalah Judea and Samaria).

Twenty-seven Israelis were murdered in Judea and Samaria in 2024, and more than 300 others were wounded, the group said in its annual report.