Israeli troops kill 3 Palestinian gunmen in clash

Israeli troops killed three Palestinian gunmen who attacked a their post in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, the army said, adding that a fourth gunman was detained after surrendering.

The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the deaths near the city of Nablus in the northern part of the West Bank, among territories where they seek statehood and which has seen a surge in violence in recent months.

The Lions Den, a militant group based in the Old City of Nablus, issued a statement claiming the three as members.

Also read: Israel hits areas in Syria's Hama and Tartous countryside

The Israeli army said a group of armed gunmen opened fire on a military post close to the Huwara-Jit junction, near Nablus, an area that has seen repeated violence between Palestinians and Israeli forces and armed settlers.

The soldiers fired back, killing three gunmen before a fourth surrendered, and confiscating weapons and ammunition, the IDF said in a statement.

The incident was the latest in a series of clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the West Bank since Israel launched a crackdown in the wake of a spate of Palestinian attacks last year.