TEL AVIV (Sputnik) — The Palestinians were recruited by Hezbollah to carry out suicide bombings and shootings targeting civilians, according to the IDF.
"A joint operation of the Israeli Security Agency, army and police resulted in arrests of a group of militants in Judea and Samaria area [Israeli name for the West Bank] who planned terrorism attacks on the Israeli people," the IDF press service said in a statement.
One of the cell's members was arrested in March, the dates of others' arrests were not disclosed, the Israeli military said, adding that information on the anti-terror operation was classified till recently.
Established in the 1980s, Hezbollah is a Lebanon's Shia organization with militant wings. The group initially aimed to end Israel's occupation of Southern Lebanon. On May 25, 2000, Israel withdrew from Lebanon, which Hezbollah widely saw as its victory.
In 2006, a 34-day military conflict started between Hezbollah militants and IDF. The conflict ended as a UN-brokered ceasefire took effect, and Israel lifted its naval blockade of Lebanon.
