TUBAS, (The Palestine Foundation Pakistan)
The Israeli occupation army announced on Wednesday morning the launch of a large-scale military operation in the northern West Bank city of Tubas and the nearby towns of Tammun, Tayasir and Aqqaba, saying its presence in the area could last for several days.
According to local officials and media sources, a large number of Israeli troops with bulldozers stormed Tubas City and other towns in the province and pillaged several homes, amid helicopter and drone overflights.
Israeli bulldozers also started to destroy roads and block entrances with mounds of dirt and debris, while helicopters reportedly opened fire intermittently to cause panic among the local residents.
As a result of this Israeli military activity, local schools and kindergartens in Tubas and other targeted areas had to suspend the educational process until further notice.
Local sources reported that the operation involved intensive overflights of Apache helicopters and reconnaissance aircraft, which opened machinegun fire from the air.
The sources added that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) blocked main roads in the entire Tubas province with mounds of dirt and rocks, isolating it from other West Bank areas.
The IOF also started carrying out violent raids on homes, detaining citizens, and preventing ambulances from moving in the province’s streets, sparking fears among residents about their safety and freedom of movement.
Some families reported being forced to leave their homes at gunpoint to make way for Israeli soldiers to use them as military barracks.
The Tubas governor said the Israeli army declared a curfew in his governorate starting at 4:00 a.m. today until further notice.
The Israeli army has justified its operation by claiming it is a preemptive move against alleged terrorism.
Meanwhile, governor Ahmed al-Asaad affirms that there are no wanted persons in his governorate, warning that the Israeli regime seeks to impose a new military fait accompli in the West Bank.
