slamic Jihad's military wing chief was killed early Wednesday during an Israeli army raid in Jenin city in northern West Bank, a source said.

The source of Islamic Jihad who declined to give his name said the Israeli forces rolled into several neighborhoods in the town and conducted a house-to-house search that included a home where two Islamic Jihad militants had taken refuge.

Clashes erupted between the soldiers and the two gunmen who refused to surrender. Alaa Zayoud, 32, the Islamic Jihad's military wing chief in Jenin was killed and the other gunman was seriously injured, according to the source.

An Islamic Jihad website said that Zayoud had been wanted by Israel for eight years.

Israel often storms the Palestinian-controlled areas in the West Bank to chase down wanted activists and members of Palestinian groups.