NEAR JENIN, West Bank (Reuters) -Israeli security forces killed three Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, a police spokesperson said.

The forces shot at the militants who were planning attacks in the area of Jenin refugee camp, then also struck by air, according to Israeli police and the Israeli military.

There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials.

A wide scale Israeli military operation launched in January in the Jenin camp, long been a stronghold of militant groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, left much of the area abandoned and in ruins.

(Reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem and Raneen Sawafta near Jenin; Editing by Kim Coghill)

See Full Page