The IDF also captured the terrorist who stabbed an Israeli civilian yesterday.
By Erin Viner
Three senior operatives in the Palestinian Lion’s Den terrorist group were apprehended in the city of Nablus this morning by IDF, Israel Security Agency (ISA, Shin Bet) and Border Police Special Operations forces during operational activities in Judea and Samaria as part of Operation Waves Breaker. Shots were heard in the area as the Israeli forces carried out raids on a number of buildings, said the IDF.
The recently-formed Lions’ Den, Arin Alousud in Arabic, is an umbrella of Palestinian terror factions belonging to the Fatah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) groups.
Among those captured was Muhammad Al-Nabulsi, on charges of illegal weapons possession, manufacture of explosive devices and involvement in the Lion’s Den. Al-Nabulsi’s notorious brother Ibrahim was targeted and killed for terror activities by Israeli security forces this past August. The other two suspects include a Palestinian wanted for involvement in a 19 September drive-by shooting attack at an Israeli vehicle in Huwara, and another operative in possession of an illegal handgun and an improvised weapon.
In parallel to the activity in Nablus, additional overnight counterterrorism activities were conducted throughout Judea and Samaria, including the towns of Dura, Tarqumiyah, Al ‘Eizariya, Bayt Fajar and Tekoa. Four Palestinians were arrested for terrorist involvement in Bidu, where mobs hurled rocks at the soldiers, who responded with riot dispersal means. Three other terror suspects were apprehended in the town of Jaba, and another three in the town of Azzun.
In a separate raid, IDF soldiers captured the terrorist who carried out the stabbing attack in the village of Al Funduq yesterday. The knife-wielding Palestinian suspect had fled the scene after wounding 63-year-old Israeli civilian Shalom Sofer in the stomach. The victim was evacuated to hospital in moderate condition [Ed. Note: but later died of his injuries].
All of the suspects were transferred to security forces for further questioning.
There were no IDF injuries reported in any of the missions.
The latest activities follow the deaths of six Lion’s Den members during a raid spearheaded by the Border Police Yamam Unit on an explosives workshop in Nablus yesterday morning; including the terror group’s leader Wadee al-Houh. As a former member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of the Fatah faction, which dominates the Palestinian Authority, Al-Houh was personally responsible for multiple terror attacks against Israeli targets.
“After this night of operational activity, I want to say that our goal was and remains to inflict severe and lasting damage on terrorism and its agents in Jenin and Nablus and anywhere else where terrorist nests grow,” said Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.
Emphasizing that security forces “will not relent for a moment” nor “allow the existence of terrorist organizations that harm Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers,” Prime Minister Lapid said Al-Houh and the other terrorists’ elimination dealt “a precise and deadly blow to the heart of terrorist infrastructure that tries to carry out attacks.”
“I congratulate the security forces who work day and night for the peace of all the citizens of Israel. Everyone who tries to harm us should know that their blood is in their head,” he underscored.