IDF Eliminates Key Palestinian Islamic Jihad Commander in Major West Bank Operation

Israel Defense Forces took out a key Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander who was long wanted by Israel for his role in terrorist attacks against the Jewish state, Israeli officials said Thursday.

Mohammed Jaber, the commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad-led Tulkarm battalion, was one of five militants Israeli forces fatally targeted inside a mosque in Tulkarm on Thursday as Israel’s major operation in the West Bank rolled into its second day. Israeli forces stormed Jenin and Tulkarm, two key militant strongholds, killing at least 10 Hamas militants and arresting thousands of suspected terrorists.

Jaber—also known as Abu Shuja’a—was on Israel’s most wanted list for his part in the planning and execution of various terror attacks, including a shooting that killed an Israeli civilian, Amnon Muchtar, in the West Bank in June, the Washington Post reported.

The Tulkarm branch of Palestinian Islamic Jihad posted to Telegram on Thursday confirming the "assassination of our leader," referring to Jaber, according to the Post.

Jaber has been an evasive target for Israel. Earlier this year, Israeli media reported that the IDF had killed the terrorist leader during a raid. He then arrived alive at a funeral days later.

While Israel has primarily focused its war efforts in the Gaza Strip and along the northern border with Hezbollah, the IDF has also led several campaigns to eliminate senior West Bank terrorist leaders. Iran, for the last decade, has been smuggling weapons to these terrorist groups in the West Bank, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Washington Free Beacon reported.

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