West Bank: Israeli troops killed the West Bank leader of the Islamic Jihad military wing in a raid in a village before dawn today, the group said.

Walid Obeidi was wanted by Israel for years, Islamic Jihad said. When Israeli troops entered the village of Qabatiya south of Jenin under cover of darkness, a heavy exchange of fire erupted between the soldiers and Islamic Jihad militants, the group said.

Obeidi was killed and two of his bodyguards wounded, the group said. The two bodyguards were arrested, it said.

The Israeli army did not immediately confirm that troops were operating in the area. Israeli troops conduct arrest raids almost nightly in West Bank communities and often Palestinian militants are killed.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has demanded that Israel stop the West Bank operations since the sides renewed peace talks last month, arguing that they damage his image among Palestinians.

But Israel has refused, saying its forces must hunt down terrorists planning attacks. Islamic Jihad has carried out several suicide attacks in Israel in recent years, killing dozens.

Source : PTI