IDF soldiers and undercover Border Police officers carried out a counterterrorism operation in Jenin early Monday morning to arrest two wanted men following intelligence information from the Shin Bet.

In the course of the operation, terrorists opened fire on Israeli security forces, sparking a massive gun battle. Four terrorists were killed and 37 were injured, nine critically.

Following the completion of the operation, three powerful explosive devices that were placed on the side of the road by terrorists exploded under an IDF jeep as it was leaving the area, injuring seven IDF soldiers and Border Police officers, three moderately and four lightly. Three other IDF vehicles were also damaged, including one that came to assist after the explosion.

IDF soldiers began evacuating the wounded soldiers under heavy as the terrorists continued to shoot at them. An IDF combat helicopter was deployed to the area to aid in the evacuation, opening fire at the terrorists with missiles and machine guns. It was the first time in 21 years that a combat helicopter was used in the Shomron.

The videos below show the injured IDF soldiers being evacuated from the area under gunfire.

Several Israeli military analysts commented that Jenin is turning into Lebanon.

The helicopter evacuated the wounded soldiers to Rambam Hospital in Haifa:

7 לוחמים נפצעו בג'נין, לפחות 5 רכבים ניזוקו: "מבצע החילוץ יימשך עוד שעות"https://t.co/Fe8X2h65cs pic.twitter.com/9CeQgCdqvK

— ynet עדכוני (@ynetalerts) June 19, 2023

The gun battle between terrorists in Jenin and Israeli security forces continued for hours, extending into the early afternoon hours.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)