Israeli security forces launched a large-scale counterterrorism operation overnight in the city of Nablus, in the northern West Bank. According to an IDF statement released Wednesday, two high-level militants were arrested and multiple weapons were seized, including an assault rifle and a fragmentation grenade.
The raid was a joint effort involving elite officers from Unit Gideonim (a special forces division of Lahav 433), the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), and the IDF.
Former “Lion’s Den” Commander Arrested
At the center of the operation was the arrest of Mahmoud Bana, a former senior operative in the now-dismantled militant group Lion’s Den. Security officials said Bana was armed at the time, attempted to flee, and was shot in the leg before being detained. He is suspected of involvement in previous shooting and bombing plots and was allegedly planning further attacks.
Explosives, Arrests, and Weapons: Israeli Forces Launch Major Operation in Nablus| RegaNews Desk
Simultaneously, undercover troops from the IDF’s Duvdevan unit, guided by Shin Bet intelligence, arrested another suspect, Khalil Hanbali, accused of firing at IDF soldiers and trafficking illegal weapons. Additional firearms and ammunition were confiscated during the arrest.
Operation Ongoing
An IDF spokesperson stated that the operation would continue “as long as necessary,” adding: “Our forces will persist in both defense and offense, determined to ensure the security of residents in the region.”
