Israel - Israelis Kill Islamic Jihad Commander

Israel - An Israeli undercover unit shot dead two Palestinian militants in the West Bank on Saturday, including a top Islamic Jihad commander, Palestinian armed groups said.

Palestinian witnesses said undercover soldiers in the West Bank city of Nablus opened fire at several Palestinians, killing two gunmen without engaging in a clash. Initial reports from the witnesses said the militants had returned the soldiers' fire.

The army said troops fought a gun battle with the militants. Palestinian armed groups said the dead men were Islamic Jihad's most senior commander in Nablus and a member of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, part of President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction.

The witnesses said the senior Islamic Jihad commander appeared to be the army's target in the raid. The Israeli military said it was checking the report.