The Palestinian health ministry says an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday killed no fewer than 10 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, in an attack which the Israeli military said targeted armed militants.

At least 10 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the northern West Bank, Palestinian authorities have said. The Israeli military said it targeted a group of armed men with an aircraft in the West Bank town of Tamun but did not provide further details.

The sudden expansion of Israeli security operations in the West Bank has killed at least 10 people and follows the start of the delicate ceasefire process in Gaza, by which Israeli hostages are released in stages and will also see the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The Palestinian health ministry said an Israeli drone strike in a village in the occupied West Bank killed at least 10 people on Wednesday, while the military said it had struck an "armed cell".

The Palestinian Health Ministry says two Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the occupied West Bank overnight and into Wednesday.

At least 10 people have been killed in the raids, and more than 40 wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Dozens have been arrested, Palestinian officials told the Wafa news agency.

In the days since a fragile ceasefire took hold in the Gaza Strip, Israel has launched a major military operation in the occupied West Bank and suspected Jewish settlers have rampaged through two Palestinian towns.

As Israel withdraws some of its troops from Gaza during a cease-fire there, it has turned attention to another Palestinian territory — in particular a city with a history of militant activity.

Israel says its increased military raids are aimed at combating rising Palestinian militant attacks against Israelis, including shootings. View on euronews