Three Israelis killed in shooting at West Bank-Jordan border

The Israeli military said a truck driver opened fire Sunday at an Israeli border crossing between the occupied West Bank and Jordan, killing three Israeli guards before being "eliminated" by security forces.

The deadly shooting at the Allenby Bridge Crossing, also known as King Hussein Crossing, comes amid surging violence in the West Bank, with major Israeli military raids and attacks by Palestinians.

The military said "a terrorist" reached the area of the crossing, in the Jordan Valley, in a truck "from Jordan".

The driver "exited the truck and opened fire at Israeli security forces operating at the bridge", a military statement said.

"Three Israeli civilians were pronounced dead as a result of the attack," the military said, later clarifying that they were "working as security guards" and not part of the army or police forces.

The attacker was shot dead by forces, the military added.

The crossing is the only international gateway for Palestinians from the West Bank that does not require entering Israel. Private security guards operate it alongside Israeli security forces stationed there.

Israel's emergency medical service Magen David Adom said earlier that three people had died of gunshot wounds at the crossing, in what police described as a shooting attack.

Israeli media reports said the assailant had opened fire at an inspection area.

Violence in the West Bank has soared since the war in Gaza broke out after the Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.

Since the Hamas October 7 attack, Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 662 Palestinians in the West Bank which Israel occupied in 1967, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

At least 23 Israelis, including members of the security forces, have been killed in Palestinian attacks during the same period, Israeli officials say.