Israeli military targets West Bank militants

The Israeli military on Monday continued what it called a widespread counterterrorism effort in the West Bank. The operation featured drone strikes and advances by ground forces. Israeli forces killed eight Palestinians in the city of Jenin and another man in Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Dozens of other people have been injured.

What is Israel’s objective with these attacks? Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that due to Iranian funding, Jenin had become a “center for terrorist activity.” Officials said the operation would continue as long as needed to dismantle the terrorist activities in the city, which is home to about 14,000 people. Some Israeli politicians have called for a greater military response since a June 20 shooting that killed four people in the Jewish settlement of Eli.

Dig deeper: Read Jenny Lind Schmitt’s report in WORLD Magazine about how Israel is grappling with its national religious identity.