The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed the elimination of a high-ranking member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in a targeted airstrike on Thursday. The operation took place in the Nur Shams refugee camp, located in the occupied West Bank, and resulted in the death of Mohammad Abdullah, who served as the PIJ’s top commander in the camp. A second militant was also killed in the strike.
The IDF, in a joint operation with the Shin Bet security agency, used an Israel Air Force aircraft to target Abdullah. He had been appointed to the leadership position after the previous commander, Muhhamad Jabber, was killed in a gunbattle in August.
Abdullah’s role within the PIJ was significant, as he was responsible for organizing the group’s activities and orchestrating attacks against Israeli forces. The IDF accused him of deploying explosives and coordinating various operations in the Tulkarem-area camp.
Following the strike, IDF troops confiscated weapons, including M-16 rifles, vests, and vehicles, from the slain militants.
The PIJ, an ally of Hamas, is a militant group that has been engaged in armed conflict with Israel in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The group receives support from Iran, which has openly condemned the airstrike and vowed retaliation.
