At least four people were killed in an Israeli drone strike in Syria, government officials in Damascus said, and Israel said it had "eliminated" a person he identified as a "significant terrorist from the terrorist organization "Islamic Jihad", reported DPA, quoted by BTA.
Faris Kassim was responsible for operational plans in both Syria and Lebanon, and was also a key figure in the recruitment of "Palestinian terrorists into the terrorist organization Hezbollah," according to a publication by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). ) in "Telegram". The text states that the recruits carried out attacks against Israel from Lebanese territory.
In recent weeks, the Iran-backed Shiite group "Hezbollah" fights with Israel almost daily.
Syrian officials said yesterday's attack hit a car in a village on the Syrian-Lebanese border, about an hour's drive from Damascus.
Local residents said the Syrian army put out the flames engulfing a vehicle, from which bodies were later recovered. The news channel "Al Arabia" shared a photo of a burnt vehicle. The non-governmental organization "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights" confirmed that the struck car was moving towards Lebanon and there were four people in it.
Most of the weapons that Iran sends to "Hezbollah" pass through Syria, DPA notes. Tehran is considered a key supporter of "Islamic Jihad".
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched the largest anti-terror operation in months in northern Samaria and the Jordan River Valley, killing at least 11 Palestinian terrorists, reports the Israeli news agency TPS, quoted by BTA.
The raid, which began in the early hours of the morning, was prompted by intelligence that terrorist groups were preparing new attacks against Israel. In response, the IDF moved swiftly to dismantle these networks, arresting dozens of suspects for questioning. Among those detained was a high-ranking leader of "Hamas" from Jenin, as well as individuals associated with Saleh al-Aruri, the group's deputy leader, who was killed in Beirut.
The raids were focused on Jenin, Nur al-Shams in Tulkarm, the El Farah camp in northwestern Samaria in the Jordan River Valley, and the village of Tubas, which is located near Shechem (Nablus). Sources from the Palestinian Authority told TPS that Zahar Jabarin, commander of the terrorist cells of "Hamas" in Judea and Samaria from Turkey, "has ordered terrorist squads to begin operating to relieve pressure on "Hamas" in Gaza".
Among the 11 terrorists killed were members of "Hamas", the Palestinian group "Islamic Jihad" and two Palestinian security officials. Other terrorist groups have joined the fighting, such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the "Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades" of "Fatah".
Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas's displeasure grew as news of the raids spread. "At the top of the organization and its senior Palestinian officials, there is great dissatisfaction with Abbas and a clear demand for the unification of all the rival factions of Fatah, because many understand that the Palestinian Authority is collapsing and because of the internal division within Fatah. ;, Ahmed Asad, representative of the Palestinian Authority in Nablus, told TPS.
Another senior Palestinian Authority official suggested that the breakup could hinder an eventual return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza. "Egypt is working to unite the rival factions of Fatah to try to return the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, but the situation in the Palestinian Authority is no less serious," he said.
"The corruption, the relative and friendly appointments and the demonstrations - all this shows a loss of legitimacy for the Palestinian Authority," said another representative of "Fatah".
The army said it expected the fighting to be prolonged. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz hinted at several days of fighting when he said on social media that Israel should consider ordering Palestinian civilians to temporarily evacuate those areas.
"As of tonight, the IDF is working intensively in the Jenin and Tulkarm refugee camps to prevent the Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructures established there. Iran is working to create an eastern terror front against Israel in Judea and Samaria modeled after Gaza and Lebanon by funding and arming terrorists and smuggling advanced weapons from Jordan, Katz wrote in X. (X).
"We must deal with the threat as we deal with the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, including the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents and any other necessary steps. This is a war for everything and we have to win it." On August 21, Israel killed in Lebanon Khalil al-Maqdah, who, along with his brother Munir, directed terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
"The two cooperated on behalf of the KGIR and were involved in directing terrorist attacks as well as smuggling weapons and funds intended for terrorist activities in Judea and Samaria," the Israeli army said.
After the assassination, analyst Benny Sabti said Iranian arms smuggling through Jordan had been going on for years, but had increased sharply since October 7. Sabti is an expert on Iran at the Institute for National Security Studies, which is affiliated with Tel Aviv University.
"It has reached dangerous levels. Iranians are proud. They consider October 7 a victory and will continue to smuggle weapons," Sabti told TPS. Recent terrorist attacks in the Jordan Valley, including a deadly drive-by shooting, have residents worried.
Since October 7, Israeli security forces have arrested more than 4,400 Palestinian terror suspects in Judea and Samaria, nearly 1,850 of whom are linked to "Hamas".
Israel has admitted shortcomings in dealing with a bloody attack by Jewish settlers on a Palestinian village in the West Bank two weeks ago, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
"This is a very serious case of terrorism in which Israelis deliberately harmed residents of the settlement of Jit," said Avi Blut, head of the Israel Defense Forces Central Command (IDF), which is in charge of the West Bank. "We failed by not arriving sooner to protect them."
A twenty-three-year-old Palestinian was shot dead in the attack and another was seriously injured. The settlers also set fire to homes and cars.
Despite warnings and deployment of significant force, about 100 masked persons managed to enter Jeet, the army said in a statement.
The first military unit arrived at the Palestinian village just minutes later, but it should have taken more decisive action to contain the rioters, Bluth said.
Accordingly, the settlers were removed from there half an hour after the start of the attack with the help of more army units.
The investigation also established that Border Guard officers stationed in the area thwarted the arrival of more settlers who wanted to storm the village.
The Israeli forces were helping the Palestinians flee from the burning houses, the message added.
So far, four people have been detained in the case. According to the army, more arrests are planned.
The United States has imposed sanctions on an Israeli non-governmental organization and an Israeli official responsible for the security of settlers in the occupied West Bank, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Included in the blacklist is the non-governmental organization "Hashomer Yosh", which claims to protect settlers. The organization has provided material aid to an illegal outpost in the West Bank that has already been sanctioned, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
The USA also imposes sanctions on Yitzhak Levi Filant – civilian security coordinator in the settlement of Itzhar. In February, the man led a group of armed settlers who set up roadblocks and organized patrols to force Palestinians off their lands, Miller added.
"Extremist settler violence in the West Bank is causing great human suffering, harming Israel's security and undermining prospects for peace and stability in the region,'' the State Department spokesman stressed.
Miller called on Israel to hold those responsible for the violence accountable.
The State Department's sanctions include an asset freeze, a travel ban to the US and a blanket ban on US citizens doing business with blacklisted individuals.
The restrictions come under an executive order on violence in the West Bank that President Joe Biden signed in February.
Meanwhile, a 33-year-old man has received preliminary terrorism charges over an arson attack on a French synagogue late last week.
He told investigators that he acted in support of the Palestinians and that his goal was to get Israel to change its policy, prosecutors said, as cited by the Associated Press and BTA.
The suspect with the initials EHK, an Algerian with a French residence, was brought before an investigating judge yesterday. The judge charged him with preliminary charges of terrorism, including attempted murder and arson on racial and religious grounds, as well as armed violence against police, prosecutors said. The suspect received a permanent measure of remand in custody pending the investigation.
Two of his alleged helpers received lesser charges.
The attack revived fears of a rising wave of anti-Semitism in France over the war between Israel and "Hamas" in Gaza and became the reason for the tightening of security measures around the Jewish temples in the Western European country.
A police officer was injured after the suspect started several fires around the "Bet Yaakov" synagogue. on Saturday in the Mediterranean resort town of La Grand Motte.
During questioning, he admitted to organizing the attack and told investigators that he was acting in support of the Palestinian cause, and his aim was to provoke a reaction from Israeli authorities, the prosecutor's office said in a statement. He added that he did not want to kill anyone, but only to scare people.
Based on his interrogations and social media posts, authorities concluded that EHK appeared to have become radicalized in recent months, telling acquaintances that he wanted to go fight in Gaza. "For a long time, he has felt hatred towards Jews, especially because of the situation in Palestine,", the state prosecution said.
In recent weeks, he purchased a firearm and gathered information on the Internet about synagogues in the area, Jewish holidays and Shabbat observances.
On Saturday he went alone in front of the "Bat Yaakov" synagogue. with a firearm, several plastic bottles of petrol and an ax on which he had written messages about Palestine, Gaza and Muslim blood.
"Once again, French Jews have been targeted and attacked for their beliefs," said acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal after visiting La Grand Motte, describing the act as horrific and disgusting.