RAMALLAH Ñ Israeli forces have killed a leading Islamic Jihad
commander in the West Bank.
Palestinian sources said Israeli special operations forces killed Diab
Shyuki in a shootout near a Jihad hideout in the West Bank city of Hebron on
Thursday. Shyuki was identified as the Jihad commander for the southern West
Bank.
Shyuki was said to have headed an insurgency network in Hebron
and the surrounding area that targeted Israeli soldiers and civilians. The
sources said Shyuki was one of the most wanted fugitives by Israel.
The sources said the killing of Shyuki dealt another blow to the Islamic
insurgency network in Hebron. Israeli forces have killed virtually every
senior commander of Hamas and Jihad in the southern city.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces failed in an attempt to kill Fares
Shahin, a Hamas commander based in the Bureij refugee camp. Shahin escaped
in an Israeli military operation that included commandos and attack
helicopters.
An Israeli soldier as well as two Hamas operatives were killed in the
clash. Israeli military sources said the military force found Kassam
short-range missiles and mortars in Shahin's house.
Palestinian sources said the battle between the Israeli force and Hamas
insurgents lasted six hours. They said Palestinians destroyed or disabled
three jeeps, an armored personnel carrier and a tank.
