Earlier today, October 22, Israeli forces killed suspected terrorist Mohammad Asi during a joint operation involving the IDF, the ISA (Israel Security Agency or Shin Bet Security Service) and the Israeli Police. Asi was among the planners of the attack on a Tel Aviv bus during Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012.
Asi, born in 1985 and from Beit Laki, has been incarcerated several times for military activity with the Islamic Jihad terrorist group. He was one of the planners of a bomb attack on November 21, 2012. The attack took place in Tel Aviv near the offices of the Ministry of Defense and injured 29 civilians.
Since the attack, security services have pursued Asi as a suspect. After many efforts, the ISA managed to locate his hideout. When IDF forces approached the hideout to arrest Asi, he attempted to escape and opened fire on the forces using a weapon that was already in his possession. The forces returned fire, killing the terrorist.
During the joint operation, accomplices of Asi were also arrested: Muhammad Ibrahim Sais, from Benjamin, who was jailed in the past for his terrorist activities with Islamic Jihad; and Abdullah Suleiman Abu Asi, from the village of Naama, who was jailed in the past for similar terror activities. The ISA interrogated both accomplices.