Israel's military on Wednesday launched a new operation against Palestinian armed groups in the occupied West Bank, where a local governor told AFP that Israeli forces had raided several towns.

The Israeli military, police and internal security service said in a joint statement that they had begun "a broad counter-terrorism operation" in the north of the Palestinian territory after they received intelligence about "attempts to establish terrorist strongholds".

The military said the operation began with air strikes to isolate the area, which were followed by "searches" on the ground, during which suspects were questioned and funds were confiscated.

It also said it shot and killed a "terrorist (who) hurled an explosive toward (Israeli) troops operating in the Qabatiya area", in the Jenin governorate, adjacent to Tubas.

The Israeli army confirmed to AFP that it was a new operation, and not part of the........

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