SHECHEM, West Bank, July 17 (UPI) -- An Israeli Defense Forces unit captured five suspected terrorists in a West Bank operation Monday that claimed the life of one Israeli soldier.
The IDF said the suspects were members of a terrorist cell that was preparing for an attack on Israeli civilians, Arutz Sheva reported Monday.
Six of the Israeli soldiers were treated at Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba, Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikvah and Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer, after sustaining wounds from an explosive device thrown at the patrol by terrorists, the IDF said. One solider was killed.
Credit for the explosive was claimed by members of the Al-Aksa Martyrs' Brigades, which is part of a Fatah faction run by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
The Israeli operation in Shechem was part of the country's two-front offensive against Hezbollah and Hamas.
