Israel Launches New Counterterrorism Operation in Northern West Bank

Latest Developments

• New Mission in Terror Hotspots: The IDF initiated a new counterterrorism operation in the northern West Bank on November 26, with raids carried out in a strip of Palestinian villages that includes Tubas, Tammun, Far’a, Tayasir, and al-Aqaba. The operation is reportedly being carried out by troops from the Commando Brigade and the Samaria and Menashe regional brigades, along with “Magav” Border Police officers. Palestinian media outlets reported that helicopter gunships had accompanied the troops during operations, which are expected to last several days.  
• PIJ’s Response: The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist organization denounced the IDF’s operation in a published statement, labeling the counterterrorist mission “systematic aggression” against Palestinians living in the northern West Bank. Meanwhile, reports have emerged from Israel’s northern border that PIJ is attempting to entrench its presence in Syria, with its forces mainly concentrated in Palestinian refugee camps in the Damascus region.
• Recent West Bank Counterterrorism Operations: The widespread operation was launched a day after the IDF eliminated Sultan al-Ghani, a Palestinian terrorist responsible for the murder of Israeli security guard Gidon Peri in 2024. PIJ claimed al-Ghani as a member of the group. A day earlier, the IDF announced that security forces had eliminated another Palestinian terrorist, Ala Raouf Shetiyya, in the West Bank city of Nablus. Shetiyya carried out a car-ramming attack near Nablus on May 29, 2024, killing IDF soldiers Staff Sgt. Eliya Hilel and Staff Sgt. Diego Shvisha Harsaj before fleeing the scene.

FDD Expert Response

“The cluster of villages now drawing IDF attention sits in a corridor long associated with terrorist activity. For example, Tubas and Far’a functioned as operational hubs for Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad during the pre-October 7 escalation of violence in the West Bank. The reemergence of terrorist activity in this specific area underscores how quickly armed factions can regroup and reconstitute networks in locations where the IDF has conducted extensive counterterrorism operations.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“In the two years since Hamas’s October 7 atrocities, the IDF has carried out multiday, targeted operations in the West Bank in order to stymie the possibility of the front escalating to full-scale warfare like in Gaza. Last January, for instance, the IDF launched Operation Iron Wall, significantly weakening Palestinian terrorist groups in hot spots like Jenin. Now, the IDF appears to be seeking similar returns in other terrorist strongholds across the northern West Bank.” — Aaron Goren, Research Analyst and Editor

FDD Background and Analysis

“IDF Eliminates Palestinian Terrorists Responsible for Attacks in West Bank,” FDD Flash Brief

“West Bank: Israeli security forces kill Palestinian police officer who shot Israeli soldier,” by Joe Truzman

“1 Israeli Killed, 3 Injured in West Bank Terror Attack,” FDD Flash Brief

“The United States Should Apply the Gaza Ceasefire’s Stipulations to West Bank Terrorist Organizations,” by Aaron Goren and Joe Truzman