- Title: WEST BANK: Israeli troops kill three al Qaeda-linked militants near Yatta village
- Date: 27th November 2013
- Summary: RESIDENTS GATHERED AT HOSPITAL BODY OF ONE OF THE MEN KILLED RELATIVE KISSING DEAD MAN PALESTINIAN WOMEN AT HOSPITAL ANOTHER DEAD MAN BEING WHEELED TOWARDS HOSPITAL MORGUE MORE OF WOMEN AT HOSPITAL DOCTORS EXAMINING WOUNDS OF MAN KILLED FACE OF MAN KILLED BEING COVERED AS HE IS BEING WHEELED AWAY EXTERIOR OF HOSPITAL
- Embargoed: 12th December 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Crime,General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA6C3G5TOY2L04FG96LLTBGW3GQ
- Story Text: The Israeli army withdrew from south of Hebron area near Yatta village in the early hours on Wednesday (November 27), after concluding an operation that left three Palestinians dead.
Israeli security officials said their forces killed three Palestinian militants on Tuesday (November 26) who they claimed were part of an al Qaeda-linked network in the West Bank.
The Palestinian Authority, which administers the territory, denied the three had had any relation to al Qaeda and accused Israelis of setting out to kill the men.
An official from Israeli's Shin Bet security agency said it had learned from a number of earlier arrests that the network was planning attacks in the coming Two of the men were killed when they opened fire on officers trying to arrest them, the official said. A number of explosive devices and two guns were found in their vehicle, the official added.
The Israeli military said a third militant was killed in a gunfight after the initial clash.
The three Palestinians killed are from the Hebron district, two of them from the village of Yatta and one from Hebron City, Palestinian radio reported.
Residents, family members and loved ones rushed to the local village hospital as the dead men were being brought in.
The funerals for the three are expected to take place in Hebron following the noon prayers.
Al Qaeda-inspired groups have a small presence in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, but are less common in the occupied West Bank, which is policed by Israeli and Palestinian Authority forces.
The Shin Bet official said the militant network had set up a safe house in the territory and was stockpiling weapons. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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