A gunfight erupted in the early hours of Tuesday morning between IDF troops and Palestinian security forces in the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian media reported.
The Palestinians said that three of their men were injured. No casualties were reported among the Israeli troops.
According to available details, IDF forces entered the Palestinian security headquarters in Nablus as part of a counterterrorism operation. Soon after, an exchange of fire with Palestinian elements inside the building ensued.
A statement by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said: "During the night, IDF, Shin Bet security agency forces, the Border Police and the Israel Police arrested 18 terror suspects and individuals suspected of violent disturbances. The suspects were taken in for further interrogation."
A military source told Israel Hayom that it appears the Israeli troops did not coordinate their entry into Nablus with the Palestinians, as they usually do, and surrounded the Palestinian Preventive Security Service's building in the city.
The Palestinian Preventive Security Service is responsible for counterterrorism and intelligence efforts in the Palestinian Authority and has 4,000 operatives. It usually maintains close working relations with the IDF and Shin Bet.
"This is a very serious incident and there will be consequences," a senior Palestinian security official told Israel Hayom.
Nablus Governor Ibrahim Ramadan said that "the army entered the building by surprise with no justification."
He said that while this was not the first time Israeli troops operated in the city overnight, it was the first time that they "targeted Palestinian security personnel."
"We cannot remain silent over this act," he said.
