Israel Launches Military Operation in Northern West Bank, Targeting Tubas

Israeli security forces began a large-scale counter-terrorism operation early Wednesday in the northern West Bank city of Tubas, encircling neighbourhoods and conducting arrests while forcing residents to evacuate their homes.

The operation, supported by helicopter gunfire and involving military, police, and intelligence units, signals an intensification of Israel’s ongoing campaign against Palestinian militancy in the region.

Tubas Governor Ahmed Al-Asaad reported that Israeli troops have taken strategic positions across several neighbourhoods, commandeering rooftops and ordering residents not to return to their homes until the operation ends, which could last several days.

The Israeli military confirmed the operation started early Wednesday but declined further comment pending additional updates.

This latest assault appears to be an extension of a military campaign launched in January 2025 in Jenin, shortly after President Donald Trump’s return to office.

Since then, Israeli forces have expanded their presence across northern West Bank cities, displacing thousands and maintaining a prolonged military footprint that has affected civilian life and infrastructure.

The operation comes amid a backdrop of escalating violence, including attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian communities, with little legal accountability.

Since the October 2023 Hamas attack from Gaza, Israel has imposed stringent movement restrictions throughout the West Bank, significantly limiting Palestinian freedom of movement through checkpoints and roadblocks.

Human Rights Watch recently accused Israel of war crimes and forced expulsions related to these ongoing operations, allegations Israel denies. Hamas condemned Wednesday’s operation in Tubas and called for international intervention to halt Israeli actions.