Five wounded in West Bank raids

Two Israeli army raids in West Bank towns early today left three Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers injured, according to the army and Palestinian security officials.

About 20 Israeli vehicles entered the northern West Bank town of Jenin at about 3am local time in search of a Palestinian wanted for anti-Israel activity.

The troops surrounded the suspect’s hideout, but he fled and shot toward soldiers, the army said.

In the ensuing gun battle, a soldier and the suspect were moderately injured and evacuated to an Israeli hospital, the army said. Soldiers in a vehicle also ran over a militant from the Islamic Jihad group, apparently accidentally, breaking his arm. The man then fled.

A second Israeli soldier was slightly injured in a separate exchange of fire in the town, the army said.

In the West Bank village of Tzurif near Bethlehem, army forces surrounded the house where a suspect from Islamic Jihad was staying, the army said.

Troops shot and injured the man when he fled from the house.