Israeli soldier stabbed with screwdriver near Jerusalem

A female border police officer was injured Tuesday after a Palestinian assailant stabbed her with a screwdriver at the West Bank's Tunnels checkpoint south of Jerusalem on Route 60. The attacker was shot dead by troops present at the scene.

The attack took place after a bus on its way to Jerusalem arrived at the checkpoint from the West Bank, according to police. Passengers were instructed to step down for an identification check. The assailant was asked to stay for further questioning when he suddenly attacked the soldier, stabbing her with a screwdriver. He was then shot. When Israeli troops searched his belongings, they found a knife.

The attack comes as tensions continue to escalate in the region as Israel prepares for a possible retaliation attack by Iran and Hezbollah after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran on July 31. Iran and Hezbollah blame Israel for the attack, though Israel has not taken responsibility for it. In parallel, Israel's military is also preparing for further violence in the West Bank. 

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli military forces raided the West Bank town of Jenin, including two airstrikes on what the Israeli military qualified as attack cells. In both instances, armed assailants opened fire at Israeli soldiers and in the second case threw explosives in their direction.