Israeli air strikes killed nine Palestinians in two locations in the occupied West Bank, Reuters quotes medics as saying, as the military described at least five of the dead as fighters suspected of planning an imminent attack.

The air strike on a car in Balata, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, killed five members of a local cell of fighters that planned a large-scale, imminent attack on Israelis, the military said in a statement.

Hours later, an air strike in the central West Bank city of Tulkarm killed four Palestinians, medics said. The military spokesperson confirmed that an operation was underway in Tulkarm but did not immediately provide details.