(Jerusalem Post)Arieh O'Sullivan - Special Border Police commandos shot dead two Hamas terrorists in a firefight in Hebron Thursday as the security forces wiped out the infamous Kawasmeh Hamas cell responsible for a string of attacks including the double suicide bus bombings in Beersheba. On Wednesday night Israeli security forces closed in on a house in the center of the city and called on the fugitives to surrender. After three hours an armored IDF bulldozer was brought in and began demolishing the house. In the ruins, troops discovered an opening to a secret chamber and the Palestinian fugitives opened fire from inside. Israeli forces returned fire, killing two Hamas men and severely wounding a third, Iyad Abu Shidam, 28, the Hamas "operations officer" in the city. The Hamas cell in Hebron supplied at least five suicide bombers in the past few years and carried out 16 attacks responsible for the deaths of 104 Israelis. Five weeks ago security forces captured Imad Kawasmeh, the cell's leader, and security sources said it was his interrogation that led to the rest of the cell. Since Kawashmeh's arrest, security forces have detained some 400 Hamas activists, including some suicide bombers and weapons suppliers.
2004-11-26 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive