Israel Sweeps West Bank

Israel launched a sweeping offensive in the West Bank early Monday, its largest military operation in the area in more than a decade. At least 11 Palestinians were killed and 80 others injured in the raids, which Israeli officials described as a counterterrorism operation to weed out militants in the refugee camp adjacent to the city of Jenin.

The West Bank, home to almost 3 million Palestinians and more than 600,000 Jewish settlers, is one of the largest flashpoints in the Middle East. Captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, international bodies consider the region to be occupied by Israel (which disputes the characterization). In practice, administrative status is split among three fractured areas, with Area C—which accounts for 60% of the land—controlled by Israel. The situation has led to decades of circular violence between Palestinian militants and the Israeli military.

Israeli officials said the operation had been planned for more than a year and reported finding an explosives manufacturing operation in the camp.