Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an “intensive operation against centers of terrorism” in the occupied West Bank, his office said, after three buses exploded in central Israel without causing any reported injuries, AFP reports.
Three devices detonated on buses in the city of Bat Yam on Thursday evening and two others were being defused, according to police, with Israel’s defence minister accusing “Palestinian terrorist” groups of being behind the blasts.
Netanyahu’s office said on social media that he had completed a security assessment with top officials, ordering fresh counterterrorism operations as well as stepped up security in Israeli cities.
“The Prime Minister has ordered the IDF (military) to carry out an intensive operation against centers of terrorism in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu’s office said on X, using the biblical term for the West Bank.
“The Prime Minister also ordered the Israel Police and the ISA (internal security agency) to increase preventative activity against additional attacks in Israeli cities,” he added.
A large number of police were deployed to search for suspects after the “suspected terror attack”, the police force said in a statement.
“Police bomb disposal units are scanning for additional suspicious objects.We urge the public to avoid the areas and remain alert for any suspicious items,” it added.