Israel uses helicopters to attack in West Bank, 5 Palestinians killed

Israeli commandos used an attack helicopter in a raid in the West Bank on June 19. The incident led to an hours-long gun battle with gunmen from armed groups, Reuters reported, citing Israeli military officials and Palestinian health authorities.

The Israeli military says seven Israeli soldiers were wounded in an operation in the flashpoint town of Jenin to arrest two Palestinians suspected of involvement in attacks against Israel. At least two of the Palestinians killed in the fighting were members of the Islamic Jihad movement.

A Palestinian gunman opens fire during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank town of Jenin on June 19.

As Israeli soldiers faced heavy fire from Palestinian gunmen in the town, the Israeli army was forced to carry out a mission to withdraw some vehicles that had been intercepted in the fighting from the area. "That's why you also saw our forces in a very difficult area and we had to send a helicopter," an Israeli army spokesman told reporters.

An Israeli helicopter flies during a raid in the West Bank town of Jenin on June 19.

Video obtained by Reuters showed an explosion engulfing an armored personnel carrier as gunfire rang out. Other videos showed a military helicopter launching missiles and dropping decoy shells.

A member of the Palestinian Fatah party said gunmen from the neighboring cities of Nablus and Tulkarem had come to Jenin to support local forces.

The unusual use of helicopter gunships in the operation underscored the ferocity of the fighting in Jenin, where armed groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad have long had a presence in a nearby refugee camp, Reuters reported.

A member of the Islamic Jihad movement said that the use of attack helicopters by Israeli commandos "will motivate our fighters to use tools that can surprise the enemy".

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would use whatever measures it deems necessary.

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