Israeli forces on Tuesday unveiled footage of weapons caches found in secret underground chambers beneath a mosque in the Palestinian militant stronghold of Jenin.
Israeli officials say troops acted on “accurate” intelligence from Israel’s security services and used “sophisticated technological tools to probe the terrorist infrastructure embedded in” the mosque. Footage shows Israeli troops searching stockpiles of explosives and weapons.
“Places of worship should never be used as a cover for terrorist activities. This is an example of the cynical exploitation of innocent civilians by Palestinian terrorist groups operating in the Jenin camp.” IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said in a statement.
The IDF’s search of the mosque came at the end of a major Monday operation targeting the militant stronghold. About 2,000 Israeli troops were deployed as part of the operation.
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Israeli forces discovered weapons caches under a mosque in Jenin on Tuesday after a massive military operation. (Israeli Armed Forces)
Palestinian officials say at least eight people were killed and 50 injured in the attack, which was larger than any operation Israel has conducted this year.
Jenin has been a hotbed of Palestinian terrorist activity for months, with Iranian-backed militants using it as a base to carry out attacks inside Israel.
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Israeli drones struck targets in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, early Monday, and thousands of troops were deployed to the area. (AP photo)
In 2023, there have been several skirmishes in and around the city, with Israeli forces conducting operations targeting specific individuals and strongholds.
ISRAEL DEPLOYS THOUSANDS OF TROOPS, DRONES IN ATTACK ON JENIN STRONG IN TERRORISM ‘HOTSPOT’
In late June, Israeli forces destroyed the home of a Palestinian suspected of killing an Israeli soldier last year.
Tires burn during an Israeli military raid on the militant stronghold of the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Monday. (AP photo)
Global Courant
The house belonged to Kamal Jouri, one of two Palestinians suspected of the murder of Staff Sgt. Ido Baruch during a drive-by shooting in the northern West Bank in October. He and a second suspect were arrested by the military in February, and the military demolished the second suspect’s home earlier this month. A Palestinian militant group called The Den of Lions has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter at Fox News Digital covering national politics and major news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.
Israeli forces reveal weapons caches hidden under Palestinian mosque after raid
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