DATE=9/25/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS (S)

NUMBER=2-307881

BYLINE=ROSS DUNN

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Israeli security forces killed at least four suspected Palestinian militants Thursday in separate operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. At least six soldiers are also reported wounded in the raids.

Ross Dunn has details from Jerusalem.

TEXT: Israeli troops first raided the Palestinian Boureij refugee camp in central Gaza in search of a top member of the Islamic Jihad.

As the soldiers entered one house, officials said, a Palestinian gunman opened fire on the squad, and the troops returned fire.

Following the gun battle, Israeli soldiers found two bodies in the house. One was identified as a member of the militant group Hamas, and the other from Islamic Jihad.

Both groups have frequently carried out suicide bombings and other terror attacks.

Later, in a separate raid, in the West Bank city of Hebron, an Israeli commando unit reported it killed two suspected leaders of Islamic Jihad in a fire fight.

In the past five weeks, Israeli forces have stepped up operations against Hamas and Islamic Jihad, killing several top military leaders of each organization. (Signed)

NEB/RD/ALW