Israeli military destroys buildings in the West Bank

The Israeli military destroyed more than a dozen buildings in Jenin, a city in the occupied West Bank, as Israel turned to the territory since withdrawing some of its troops during the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza.

Footage captured by Reuters showed a series of explosions tearing through the city, sending towering plumes of smoke into the sky.

In a statement on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had demolished several buildings in Jenin that were “used as terrorist infrastructure.”

The number of casualties, if any, is currently unknown.

Israel launched an offensive in Jenin last month to “defeat terrorism,” according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

It is the third major incursion by the Israeli army into the city — a longtime stronghold of militant groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad — in less than two years.

On Sunday, a 16-year-old boy was among five people killed by Israeli air strikes on Jenin, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

In Gaza, the IDF said that an Israeli aircraft had fired on a vehicle it said was travelling outside the “agreed inspection route,” which it claimed violated the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

“The IDF is prepared for any scenario and will continue to take any necessary actions to thwart immediate threats to its soldiers,” the statement read.

Both attacks coincided with Netanyahu’s departure for the United States on Sunday, where he is set to meet President Donald Trump.

Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to visit Trump since his inauguration in January, left Israel as negotiations for the second phase of talks were expected to begin on Monday.

Meanwhile, the deputy head of Hamas, Mousa Abu Marzouk, will lead a delegation to visit the Russian capital Moscow on Monday, the RIA state news agency reported on Sunday.

Russia has long held ties to governments and groups in the Middle East, including Israel, Iran, Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates.