The Israeli army conducted a series of military operations Thursday night in the West Bank, arresting several Islamic extremists, including a local leader of Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigades, witnesses and security sources said on Friday.

Witnesses said a number of Israeli soldiers Thursday night stormed the town of Al-Faris near Nablus in northern West Bank and took Ali Mansour, the local leader of the ruling Fatah movement's Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigades, out of a house.

Palestinian militants opened fire at Israeli soldiers in the wake of the arrest operation and the clash lasted for a few hours. No casualty was reported.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army stormed early Friday morning Jenin area in northern West Bank and arrested three members of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and five others, security sources said.

The Israeli army has intensified military operations since a deadly suicide bombing attack in the Israeli coastal city of Hadera on Oct. 26.

Source: Xinhua