Israeli tanks were deployed to the West Bank on Sunday morning for the first time in more than 20 years, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the expansion of an ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the northern part of the territory.

Israeli tanks were last deployed in the West Bank in 2002, during Israel’s fight against a deadly Palestinian uprising.

The day has come—IDF tanks are now patrolling the terrorist stronghold of Jenin in Samaria, Israel. pic.twitter.com/N5hjkQoWqe

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) February 23, 2025

The IDF announced on Sunday that it is expanding its operations in northern Samaria, from Jenin to the area to its south. The expansion is intended, among other things, to capture terrorists who have escaped the IDF’s actions in Jenin. 

The military operation in Jenin, dubbed Operation Iron Wall, began in January as part of Israel’s efforts to combat terrorist activity in the region. The IDF has reported seizing weapons, dismantling explosives laboratories, and arresting dozens of suspected militants since the operation began.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz said the IDF has also been instructed to remain in West Bank refugee camps, including Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur a-Shams, that have been cleared of terror operatives and civilians for at least the next year to prevent the return of approximately 40,000 displaced Palestinians. 

“I instructed the IDF to prepare for a long stay in the camps that were cleared, for the coming year, and not allow residents to return and the terror to return and grow,” Katz said in a statement. 

“We will not return to the reality that was in the past. We will continue to clear refugee camps and other terror centers to dismantle the battalions and terror infrastructure of the extreme Islam that was built, armed, funded, and supported by the Iranian evil axis, in an attempt to establish an eastern terror front,” he added.

In a rare occurrence, IDF Merkava tanks entered the outskirts of Jenin today. I have not seen evidence of an operational need for them other than signaling to terrorist groups that tanks can be deployed against them at a moment’s notice. pic.twitter.com/mYSuwRrepb

— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) February 23, 2025

Israel’s decision to expand operations in the West Bank comes after multiple buses in the Tel Aviv exploded in a suspected terror attack on Thursday.